Call for
stories
PAGE launches an International Literary Contest to promote accessible literature for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
Across Europe, accessible books for teenagers and young adults remain extremely rare. While the publishing industry has made progress in children’s accessibility, very few titles are available for older readers who need cognitively adapted texts.
PAGE seeks to change this by supporting authors, educators, and publishers in creating stories that combine literary quality, emotional depth, and cognitive accessibility.
About the contest
The PAGE Literary Contest is open to everyone. Participants may submit short stories written in Easy Language, using one of the partnership languages (Italian, French, Slovenian, Croatian, or Portuguese).
A jury composed of a publisher, an Easy Language expert, an inclusion specialist, and a representative of the target group will select five winning stories.
Selected works will be published in the PAGE app, printed in a limited physical edition in 6 partner languages, and promoted at EU level through events, presentations, and communication campaigns.
Who can apply
The contest is open to:
- Authors and co-authors from Italy, France, Slovenia, Croatia, and Portugal.
- Writers, educators, or creative professionals with an interest in inclusive storytelling.
- In the case of minors, submissions must be accompanied by a signed authorization from a parent or legal guardian, granting consent for participation in the PAGE.
Short stories between 10.000 and 18,000 characters, including spaces., written in Easy Language.
Submissions accepted in partner language (italian, french, slovenian, croatian and portuguese).
Key dates
- Call opens: 1 December 2025
- Submission deadline: 31 May 2026
- Announcement of winners: June 2026
Find the full rules and eligibility criteria on the PAGE website and in the official national calls released by each partner organization.
Why this contest matters?
Accessible literature helps young people with intellectual disabilities develop their creativity, connect with others, and access culture on equal terms.
Through this contest, PAGE seeks to build a European community of inclusive writers and to inspire new editorial practices that make books truly accessible to all.
How to participate?
Read the full contest rules and eligibility criteria.
Prepare your manuscript in .docx or .pdf format (2,000–5,000 words).
Submit your story through the online form below.
About PAGE
PAGE (Project for Advancing Cognitive Accessibility in Publishing) is a European cooperation project dedicated to promoting accessible and inclusive literature for young readers.
Through research, creative residencies, training, and digital innovation, PAGE supports authors and publishers in creating stories without barriers — stories that everyone can read, feel, and imagine.
👉 Follow PAGE on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook using the hashtag #pageprojectcall and help us spread the word across Europe.
Together, let’s make literature accessible to everyone!