Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien

Lore & Background

The association originated in the early 1980s when parents of dwarfs began meeting to network and exchange experiences, led by Ruzena and Karl-Heinz Klingebiel and psychologist Ortrun Schott. It was formally founded on February 16, 1988, as the 'Elterngruppe kleinwüchsiger Kinder e.V.' and held its first dwarfism forum that year in Mauloff. A counseling office opened in Bremen in 1991, and in 1992, an initiative with the Vereinigung Kleinwüchsiger Menschen achieved a nationwide ban on dwarf tossing. The association was renamed to its current name in 1994.

In 2006, founding chairman Karl-Heinz Klingebiel received the Bundesverdienstkreuz. The German Center for Dwarfism Issues opened in 2007, featuring a dwarf-friendly model apartment. The 'Generationswechsel' project in 2013 involved young dwarf adults in leadership roles, and Patricia Carl-Innig became chairperson on March 17, 2013, succeeding Doris Michel. In 2023, the association hosted the 8th World Dwarf Games in Cologne with over 500 athletes from 25 countries.

Reader's Guide

The Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien has been a central pillar of support and advocacy for short statured individuals in Germany. Its significance lies in its comprehensive self-help model, combining nationwide counseling, regional associations, and working groups dedicated to specific dwarfism diagnoses. The association's achievements, such as the 1992 ban on dwarf tossing and the 2023 World Dwarf Games, highlight its effectiveness in combating prejudice and promoting inclusion. By publishing the quarterly magazine 'betrifft kleinwuchs' and collaborating with medical specialists, it disseminates knowledge to both affected individuals and professionals. Its membership in organizations like the German Disability Council and EURORDIS underscores its role in broader disability and rare disease advocacy. The association's legacy is one of empowering a marginalized community through information, psychosocial support, and political action, ensuring that the voices of dwarf individuals and their families are heard and respected.

Did You Know?

• The association was originally founded as 'Elterngruppe kleinwüchsiger Kinder e.V.' in 1988.
• In 1992, the association helped achieve a nationwide ban on dwarf tossing in Germany.
• The association hosts an annual Kleinwuchsforum on Ascension Day with up to 600 participants.
• The German Center for Dwarfism Issues, opened in 2007, includes a dwarf-friendly model apartment for testing technical aids.

From Parental Gatherings to a National Voice

The story of BKMF begins in the early 1980s, when parents of children with dwarfism started meeting informally to share experiences and build a network. The driving force behind this grassroots effort was Ruzena and Karl-Heinz Klingebiel, joined by psychologist Ortrun Schott. Their collective frustration with isolation and a lack of reliable information led to the formal establishment of a registered association on February 16, 1988, initially named the Parents' Group of Dwarf Children. That same year, the first dwarfism forum was held in Mauloff, marking a milestone for community gathering. By 1991, the group had grown enough to open a full-time counseling office in Bremen, staffed by a dedicated administrative professional and a management team. The following year brought a landmark legislative victory: in partnership with the Vereinigung Kleinwüchsiger Menschen, the association helped secure a nationwide ban on the exploitative practice of dwarf tossing. In 1993, members voted to rename the organization to reflect its expanded scope, becoming the Federal Association of Dwarf People and Their Families, signaling a deliberate shift from a parents-only focus to one encompassing adults and families alike.

A Patchwork of Diagnoses Under One Roof

Because dwarfism encompasses a wide range of genetic and medical conditions, BKMF's membership reflects considerable diagnostic diversity. By 2013, the association counted more than 3,500 members, each potentially dealing with a different underlying cause. To honor this variety, the organization structured its internal working groups around specific conditions. Eight dedicated groups exist, covering diagnoses such as Achondroplasia, Diastrophic Dysplasia, Hypochondroplasia, Phosphate Diabetes, and Congenital Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia. One group addresses Silver-Russell Syndrome alongside Small for Gestational Age and Growth Hormone Deficiency, while another serves those with Tricho-Rhino-Phalangeal Syndromes and Multiple Hereditary Exostoses. Not every condition has its own group; some are so rare that fewer than ten affected individuals exist across all of Germany. Even in those cases, the priority remains connecting people for mutual exchange. Beyond working groups, three committees—Young People, Parents, and Adult Dwarfs—ensure that support is tailored to each life stage, while a Scientific Advisory Board and an Elder Council provide professional and experiential guidance to the leadership.

Advocacy Victories and Institutional Recognition

BKMF's impact on public policy and disability rights extends well beyond its membership base. A defining early achievement came in 1992, when the association, working alongside the Vereinigung Kleinwüchsiger Menschen, succeeded in having dwarf tossing banned nationwide—a practice that had long treated people with dwarfism as a form of entertainment. The organization also played a founding role in the Deutscher Behindertenrat, Germany's Disability Council, and co-founded the Allianz Chronischer Seltener Erkrankungen, a coalition for chronic and rare diseases. These alliances amplified its voice in broader disability and rare-disease advocacy. In 2006, the federal government recognized the association's contributions by awarding founding chairman Karl-Heinz Klingebiel the Bundesverdienstkreuz, Germany's Federal Cross of Merit. The following year saw the opening of the German Center for Dwarfism Issues, which includes a dwarf-friendly model apartment where affected individuals can trial technical aids and assess their practical usefulness in daily living. This center stands as a tangible resource, translating advocacy into hands-on support for members navigating everyday challenges.

Sustaining Community Through Knowledge and Generational Renewal

BKMF's ongoing mission centers on self-help, empowerment, and the systematic sharing of knowledge. A nationwide counseling network connects a full-time staff office in Bremen with volunteer counselors spread across eight regional associations, each free to organize local events and subdivide as needed. The association publishes the quarterly member magazine "betrifft kleinwuchs," which blends internal news with personal stories, research updates, and self-help guidance. Its "Yellow Sheets" offer compact, scientifically grounded explanations of individual diagnostic fields, while dedicated medical condition guides cover topics from Achondroplasia to Hypochondroplasia. In 2013, the "Generationswechsel" project formalized a commitment to bringing younger adult members—many of whom had been part of the association since childhood—into responsible leadership roles. That same year, Patricia Carl-Innig assumed the chairpersonship, succeeding Doris Michel after her twelve-year tenure. The most recent high-profile milestone came in 2023, when BKMF hosted the 8th World Dwarf Games in Cologne, drawing over 500 athletes from 25 countries and putting the community's spirit of inclusion and celebration on an international stage.