The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation
“Living Life Beyond Height.”
The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation is dedicated to empowering and supporting individuals with skeletal dysplasia and their families. We strive to redefine inclusivity and acceptance within the dwarfism community, encouraging everyBODY to resiliently live life beyond height. Through advocacy, community support, and educational initiatives, we’re striding towards a world where differences are celebrated, and every set of ‘little legs’ dances to the rhythm of a big heart; navigating their journey with the best quality of life possible no matter what medical choices they make. At the end of the day, a skeletal dysplasia diagnosis not only involves overcoming physical challenges but also navigating the emotional, societal, and mental aspects of living with dwarfism.
The Power of Community
Whether you are first-time parents, an affected individual, or family member, we all know the value of connecting with others who understand the unique challenges and triumphs associated with living in the face of adversity. Finding doctors who are knowledgeable and skilled in diagnosing, managing, and treating skeletal dysplasia can be incredibly difficult. The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation aims to provide all the resources necessary for individuals and their families to advocate for a healthy, functional, pain-free, happy life, recognizing that this will look different for everyone.
Living with skeletal dysplasia should never limit dreams or opportunities. Here’s to empowering lives, building community, and fostering connections among children and adults living with skeletal dysplasia, their families, advocates, healthcare professionals, and researchers. We’re with you every step of the way, no matter how long your legs are, providing a foundation for life that resonates with every heart and soul in our community.
We invite you to be a part of our journey. Whether by participating in our initiatives, attending our events, or simply spreading the word, your involvement helps us create a brighter future for the skeletal dysplasia community, where every individual feels seen, valued, and empowered.
Meet the Team
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Kristen DeAndrade
Founder & President
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Jennifer Edwards
Executive Assistant
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Sarah Elliot
Director of Government Affairs & Advocacy
Our Mission
Specialized Care
The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that individuals living with skeletal dysplasia have access to the highest quality of specialized medical care. We collaborate with leading experts and healthcare providers who offer specialized management and treatment options and support, addressing the unique needs of each individual in our community.
Medical Funding
Finding a specialized doctor can be costly, especially when it comes to roadblocks with insurance or when travel is required. The Little Legs Lifeline Fund helps to alleviate these financial burdens by providing financial assistance for essential medical procedures, therapies, and consultations with renowned specialists, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to necessary care.
Advocacy and Global Outreach
Our foundation is committed to advocating for the rights and inclusion of individuals with skeletal dysplasia on not only a local and community level but on a global scale as well. We engage with policymakers, advocacy groups, and international organizations to raise awareness, promote inclusivity, and drive policy changes that benefit our community.
Education
Education is a cornerstone of our mission. We provide educational resources to individuals with skeletal dysplasia, their families, healthcare professionals and research companies. Our goal is to disseminate accurate information about the condition, treatment options, and best practices to foster informed decision-making and satisfy the community’s unmet needs.
Research and Innovation
The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation commits to being at the forefront of supporting research and innovation in the field of skeletal dysplasia; collaborating on groundbreaking research projects that seek to advance understanding, improve treatments, and discover new therapies, with the ultimate aim of enhancing quality of life.
Community Empowerment
Community is everything and empowering individuals with skeletal dysplasia and their families is what makes our hearts so big. We create and nurture supportive gatherings where members can connect, share experiences, and gain strength from one another. Through events, an annual conference, and peer support networks, we aim to build a resilient and empowered community that thrives together.
Become a Member – It’s Free!
Our Commitment to Inclusion and Equality
The Little Legs Big Heart Foundation complies with all applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or medical management choices.
The Foundation and our community members are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of their background or medical decisions. We do not exclude individuals or treat them differently based on any of these factors. Everyone deserves equal access to our programs, support, and community.