Little People, Dwarfs or Midgets?

Usually I feel savvy in tossing around politically correct terms. I generally know when to use what words surrounding issues of race or ethnicity; however, lately I’ve felt a bit stymied. I don’t know which words to use to describe people of smaller stature (I’m not talking about those who are petite), but rather what I think could be called midgets or dwarfs. I have no idea if those are the correct terms or if there are other words that better describe this population. All I do know is that there seem to be several TV shows right now making use actors with such stature. There is the TV show, Little People, Big World, a reality show about a family comprised of average sized people as well as little people. On the show’s website I learned one is considered to have dwarfism if one has an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches or less. Lest you think the use of “smaller” characters is limited to cable, actress Meredith Eaton performed in several Boston Legal episodes to detail a relationship between Denny Crane and Bethany Horowitz. Eaton also made an appearance on House, MD. She seems to be quite a talented actress (with no further explanation required). In case you are curious as to the correct terminology to describe those like Eaton, it seems midget is a pejorative term and should not be used; little people or those with dwarfism are preferred terms. I also would venture that one should not be referred to as a dwarf in the same way on shouldn’t be called autistic but rather a person with dwarfism or a person with autism. Clearly, I have been watching too much television lately.