- Title: FRANCE: 250 LITTLE PEOPLE MEET IN DOURDAN
- Date: 18th May 1996
- Summary: DOURDAN, FRANCE (MAY 18, 1996) (RTV ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/SV GROUP PHOTOGRAPH OF MEMBERS OF LITTLE PEOPLE ASSOCIATION AT HOLIDAY CENTRE (5 SHOTS) 0.46 2. LV/SLV LITTLE PEOPLE PLAYING TABLE TENNIS (2 SHOTS) 0.54 3. LV/SV DEMONSTRATION OF FURNITURE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR LITTLE PEOPLE (2 SHOTS) 1.14 4. SLV NATALIE AND FABIEN PRETOU OF GRENOBLE WALKING TOGETHER 1.24 5. LV LITTLE PEOPLE PLAYING SOCCER 1.34 6. SV NATALIE AND FABIEN, FABIEN SAYS WE ARE LIKE ANY OTHER COUPLE, BUT THE VIDEO CASSETTE AND CUPBOARDS, DOORKNOBS AND LIGHT SWITCHES ARE DESIGNED FOR HER HEIGHT, THAT'S ALL (FRENCH) 2.01 7. SV NATALIE DEMONSTRATES CAR ADAPTED FOR HER USE 2.36 8. LV THEY DRIVE OFF IN THE CAR 2.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 2nd June 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DOURDAN, FRANCE
- City:
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA3626M4FD0E4Q6QC2BG0S4DB70
- Story Text: INTRO: Two hundred and fifty dwarfs, many of whom prefer to be known as "little people", had a meeting in France to exchange ideas on improving the quality of their lives.
The "little people", meeting in Dourdan, southeast of Paris on Saturday (May 18), tested new chairs designed for their comfort, gadgets that would help pull on socks to avoid falling over, and cars whose interiors have been adapted for shorter legs.
Danielle Hugues, a social worker for the French Association of Little People, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, said "This meeting is to get medical information and to know more furniture for little people. All cars and materials, clothes." Little people find being small poses problems in performing functions many people of normal size take for granted.
Little person Natalie Pretou and her normally-sized husband Fabian say the furnishings in their house are specially adapted to cater for their different sizes.
The video cassette machine is installed both in bedroom and downstairs at different levels. The kitchen cupboards are installed both at a higher and a lower level. Doorknobs are placed at Natalie's height and foot switches have been installed.
The Pretou couple believe little people should receive government support. Natalie says everything related to public service poses a problem for her. "The tramways, telephone cabins, bank counters are a problem." Fabien says the Association of Little People helps his wife defend herself from stares. "When we go out Sunday afternoon it becomes a fair. A travelling show." There are 8,000 "little persons" living in France.
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