'True Seven Dwarfs' Share Their Story to Educate Others
Thursday, December 22, 2011 4:00AM
The Johnstons, a family of achondroplasia dwarfs, call themselves the real-life seven dwarfs. Mom Amber and dad Trent, who have two biological and three adopted dwarf children, say they wrote to the show to share their story, because it's important for them to educate others.
Amber explains what it's like when people ask to take their picture. "I think sometimes people look at us... a lot of times with other shows being on TV… they think we're that show," says Amber. "Some people are doing it to be ugly."
"People are curious," continues Amber. "And people don't know how to ask questions. And it's our objective to educate people." Take a look at this moment from the show and help educate yourself and those around you about achondroplasia.
Filed Under: As Seen On The Show
Comments
Hello my name is Tiffany Robinson and im 27 years old, i am the mother of Na'imah who is 4 and she was born with Achondroplasia. I am of average height and i seen the show with your family and it touched me and helped with my understanding of dwarfism, and how to go about helping Na'imah and myself with our day to day life. I just wanted to say thanks and im glad i caught the show that day :-)
What an amazing family! They're not feeling sorry for themselves, or gunning for pity, or expecting everyone else to cater to them. I watched that video in awe of the ways they've adapted themselves to a world that will never adapt to them.
That said, there is something I must say:
education isn't going to do jack for the said "ugly" people.
It's not that people don't understand - it's not that complicated!- it's that some people are arrogant & immature, and get some sort of perverted enjoyment out of picking on those they perceive to be better than. They "know" all right. They know EXACTLY what they're doing when they stare, laugh, and whisper to each other. And the thing is: THEY DON'T CARE.
Suppose you were to witness one of the members of the Johnston family being harassed, and you were to do the right thing, and step in. Do you honestly believe the attacker's response would be, "Oh I'm so SORRY! I didn't KNOW that I was making this poor person feel like a freak show." ? NO! If you did get a remotely decent response, it would probably be eyes on the floor, and a mumbled, "S-sorry." or a sarcastic "WELL, EXCUSE ME!"
Despicable, yes. People like that are heartless and rude.
WOW!!..the johnston's family made me realize that complaning about what i have is wrong..they taught me to appreciate what i have..this has brought tears to my eyes because the johnston's will not back down from accomplishing anything that they set their mind to do...i look forward to watching and listening to more stories similar to the johnston's story.
The Johnston's are an awesome family..wht don't we have more neat things like this on TV.
We are all unique in different ways. Knowledge is all powerful in bridging the gap between individuals.
Thanks Mr. Anderson, I enjoy your broadcasts about human interest stories without the sleaze. You are a class act!
I think this family is great. It takes a big heart to help people learn more about thing that they don't understand. Johnson family keep up the good work. Bless all of you.
The Johnson family is wonderful. They shared their hearts and home with not only their own children, but three others who needed them. I know there are terrible people in this world, but most of the people I know are simply unsure of how to act around people who are different than they are in any way. I would just like to say hello and what a handsome family they are-but I would be nervous not wanting to make a mistake. So I will just say it here and hope that the Johnsons know that not all of us are nasty, sometimes just unsure.
These are happy people with beautiful smiling faces. Very hardworking and they live in a beautiful home that many tall people can not even afford to buy.
I say this with respect to the Johnstons, you are all wonderful and great people doing extraordinary things that some of the so called "tall people" can not do. There is a proverb like this, "if people say you are too short, wear high heels, and if people say you are too tall wear low heels (flip flop). please look beyond the physical challenges you face every day and look on to God. Psalms 121:1 says, I look up to the hills from whence comes my help? my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and the earth. keep on striving for execellence, be encouraged, the best is yet to come, you will soon become millionaires, featuring in one of these TV progammes that we watch everyday. Remain blessed and remember me when you hit it big !!!. Thanks for educating us.
From Ms. Ngo,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Want to let you know that I am hard of hearing and always been left out from hearing world. I do not understand what they were saying in that video also looking for Close Caption on there but I had to read other people comment below and had to figures things out how Johnston's family feels. Talking about calling names-being short and how to handle life.
God create all of us to be different and we all need to be accept who we are and we are different even we had to deal a hard way of living. You guys (Johnston's family) are beautiful and I have a big heart and love to meet you all!
All my family and children are hearing! My two older children sign but other two young trying but not like interpreter! I have a poem to share...so you all know what the deaf world is too! I like to know about the Johnston's family...Just love the feeling to hear about each one of you!
The Poem: This is so TRUE how we had to deal with!!
"BEING DEAF"
"What is it like to be deaf?"
People have asked me.
Deaf? Oh, hmm....how do I explain that?
Simple: I can't hear.
No, wait...it is much more than that.
It is similar to a goldfish in a bowl,
Always observing things going on,people talking at all times.
It is like a man on his own island among foreigners.
Isolation is no stranger to me.
Relatives say hi and bye
But I sit for five hours among them,
Taking great pleasure at amusing babies or being amused by TV.
Reading books, resting, helping out with food.
Natural curiosity perks up upon seeing greatlaughter, crying, anger.
Inquiring only to meet with a "Never mind" or "oh, it's not important".
Getting a summarized statement of the whole day.
I'm supposed to smile to show my happiness.
Little do they know how truly miserable I am.
People are in control of language usage,
I am at a loss and really uncomfortable!
Always feeling like an outsider among the hearing people,
Even though it was not their intention.
Always assuming that I am partof them by my physical presence,
Not understanding the importance of communication.
Facing the choice between Deaf Event weekend or a family reunion.
Facing the choice between the family commitment and Deaf friends.
I must make choices constantly,
Any wonder why I choose Deaf friends???
I get such great pleasure at the Deaf clubs, before I realize it, it is already 2 AM!
Whereas I anxiously look at the clock every Few minutes at the Family Reunion.
With Deaf people, I feel so normal.
Our communication flows back and forth, catching up with little trivial, our daily life,
Our frustration in the bigger world, seeking the mutual understanding,
Contented smiles and laughter are musical,so magical to me.
So attuned to each other's feelings.
True happiness is so important.
I feel more at home with Deaf people, of various color, religion, short or tall,
than I do among my own hearing relatives.
And you wonder why?
Our language is common.
We understand each other.
Being at loss of control of the environment that is communication,
people panic and retreat to avoid deaf people like the plague.
But deaf people are still human beings
with dreams, desires and needs
to belong, just like everyone else.
Hope the Johnston family can be more on TV show so I can watch it with Close Caption!! Love you all!
K OZ
Thank you Anderson and CONGRATULATIONS Johnston Family!!! How beautiful, strong, lovely and brave is you.
God bless you sooo much.
A big kiss in your heart.
Yes it is so hard sometimes, in a taller world than you. Try and be proud. I Try to be. Do my best. I am 4'11" jnches tall and still try to do things. I am also considered patite.
What a beautiful family the Johnstons are. It doesn't matter how tall or short you are, we can all learn something from them. They can still do things that everyone else can, they just need to have help reaching up, etc.
May God bless this family.
I wish they did a tv show on how their day to day life is like. I would watch it. They are a sweet family. The kids are so cute. I wish I knew them personally.
Commendable family. I wish you all the best for your family. Mrs. Johnson - you rock.
Wow! What a difference between this show with the Johnston family and Dugan and yesterday's show with "Toddlers and Tiaras."
Yesterday we watched a menacing blond stage mother calling people moronic and today we had the great pleasure of watching two families who faced real problems and handled them with grace and beauty.
Yesterday we heard how a woman pays a minimum of $100,000/year to buy her daughter costumes "a la Las Vegas chorus line girl", make-up, hair weaves and today we watched a wonderful Mrs. Johnston break into tears because she got a front loading washer and dryer combination. What beautiful, beautiful people! Look how beautiful Mrs. Johnston is!
I wonder of the mothers from yesterday's show even understood how wonderful these families of today's show were compared to the glitter and shallowness of their lives going from town to town competing against other little non-talented toddlers dressed up like Barbie Dolls.
Anderson, this is the kind of show I want to see! Not psychics, not beauty pageant toddlers..but real people facing different adversities and showing beauty and love in everything they did. I fell in love with Dugan myself!
A big Thank You to the Johnston family for appearing on your show. Unfortunately, when those people who have never experienced encounters with others who are different than themselves, they don't always respond appropriately. It hurt my heart when Elizabeth said that when people take her picture and such that it makes her feel that others wish they weren't here. Elizabeth, I would really hope that when someone is taking your picture when you are out and about, it is because you are so cute! (as is your whole family!) I am happy you and your family are here! You, your sister and brothers are so brave and strong to be able to come on the show and help educate people and your mom and dad are doing a fabulous job in teaching you to be courageous, resilient people. You are all great!
Also, shows like this are great in educating people on what is correct and not in how to address people in your situation. When I was growing up, I was thought to believe the proper term to use was the "m" word when talking about little people. Thankfully, I later learned different.
Thank you!!!
Pamela