NOSSA is a united organization of short men and women from around the globe, committed to opposing heightism in society, providing a supportive environment in which to share experiences, and promoting the message of self-empowerment for all of its members.
The National Organization of Short Statured Adults (NOSSA) is a non-profit advocacy group for adults of short stature. The organization defines “short stature” to be men under 5’7″ and women under 5’2″ in height. The group advocates on behalf of short people and hopes to foster greater acceptance of short people within society. NOSSA is opposed to the prejudice known as heightism. The group defines heightism as, “a prejudiced attitude about human height that often results in discrimination. It is based on the belief that short statured people are inferior and undesirable.” The organization runs a series of public education programs, sponsors height-related research, acts as a media “watch-dog” group, provides legal assistance for those affected by heightism, hosts online discussion groups, and invites members to gather once a year for an annual convention.