I WAS BORN TO STAND OUT AND I WILL.

A Gen Z social advocacy campaign by Disha S. Charan in partnership with the Restricted Growth Association, a UK based charity for dwarfism.

Become a Volunteer

What is the RGA?

The Restricted Growth Association UK (RGA) is a registered charity founded in 1970 that supports people living with dwarfism and restricted growth conditions across the UK. The organisation provides resources and medical information, connects families and individuals through events like its annual convention, and campaigns to challenge societal perceptions of people with short stature. Anyone can get involved by becoming a member, volunteering, fundraising, or donating at rgauk.org.

Learn More

identity

'I Was Born To Stand Out And I Will' mini series places women with dwarfism at the centre of conversations that are long overdue. From a Gen Z perspective, topics like identity, self-perception, and belonging are explored not through an outside lens but through the words of the women living these experiences pushing back against a media landscape that has historically reduced dwarfism to spectacle, stereotype, or silence. These are stories of selfhood told with honesty, complexity, and dignity.

representation

For women with dwarfism, questions of identity carry a particular weight. From navigating medical systems that define you by your condition, to existing in digital and public spaces that constantly remind you of your difference, the sense of self is shaped by forces most people never have to consider. And yet mainstream conversations about identity rarely include these women and when they do, the framing is rarely theirs. Nowhere is this more stark than on screen.

accessibility

For people with dwarfism, a trip to the supermarket is rarely straightforward. Shelves are too high, self-checkouts are not designed for shorter reach, and the layout of most public spaces reflects a world built around a body type that is not theirs. My series documents those everyday realities with clarity and honesty not as a catalogue of complaints, but as a clear-eyed case for why accessible design must account for everyone.

What We Stand For

Project Aims & Objectives

The Big Mission

To make sure every person with dwarfism has the exact same chances, respect, and rights as everyone else in our society.

We're building a world where being different is celebrated, and nobody gets left behind just because of their stature.

Speak Up & Be Heard

Sharing real stories through my mini-series to show the world that dwarfism is just one part of a person's identity, not the whole thing.

Fair Treatment Everywhere

Working with the Restricted Growth Association to make sure places are accessible and fair for everyone.

Make The World A Better Place

Connecting dwarfism advocates across the UK so we can create a powerful wave of change together.

Every Contribution Fuels Real-World Change

The Restricted Growth Association is passionate about changing society for the better so that people with dwarfism can have the same opportunities as everyone else. Our purpose is to ensure that all people who are affected by dwarfism are equal in society (RGA, 2026).

Get Involved

1970

Established

6000

Estimated people are living with dwarfism in the UK

400+

Medical conditions can cause short stature

Be a Part of the Solution

Whether you donate, volunteer, or spread the word, your involvement is crucial to spreading awareness about dwarfism worldwide.

Become a Volunteer

We contributed to the world through...

My 6-episode mini-series documenting the journey of lived experiences of dwarfism in partnership with the Restricted Growth Association aka RGA where we aimed to champion rights for the dwarfism community across the UK through Digital Storytelling and digital artefacts. Start with the official trailer below.

UPDATED FINAL TRAILER (1) (1).mp4

Official Trailer

I WAS BORN TO STAND OUT AND I WILL.

Watch the definitive trailer for my social advocacy series in partnership with the Restricted Growth Association. From identity and womanhood to everyday accessibility and social perception, two women with short stature share their stories, their struggles, and their message for a more equal world.