We are delighted to announce that we are beginning the process of putting together the programme for the Accessible Book & Story Festival 2026. This will another wonderful celebration of the myriad ways books and stories are being made accessible for children with additional needs.
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Making stories fun for everyone
The Accessible Book & Story Festival is unique in its focus on books and stories for children with additional needs, in particular those with severe/profound needs. The festival was started by My Kind of Book in 2024 in response to research we carried out with families and ASN schools. (Download the report on our inaugural festival here and our research report here.)
We believe that children with additional needs can enjoy a good story, just like their peers, but they require books and storytelling that have been designed with their needs in mind. This festival has a unique role in addressing the current lack of provision for these children.
The festival hub will be at the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh in September 2026 where there will be an inspiring programme of presentations, training workshops and discussions for publishers, teachers, authors, illustrators, librarians and others.
Alongside this will be a programme of outreach and family events for children with additional needs across Scotland.
Many thanks to Creative Scotland for their continuing support for this project.
Accessible Book & Story Festival 2024
Clockwise from top right: Service users and staff from Trindlemoss Day Service leading a presentation; participant in sensory story meditation workshop with Aine Murphy; participants in Oily Cart sensory workshop; Rita Gerkema-Nijhof leads a workshop on the use of video feedback in sensory storytelling; participants in Oily Cart sensory workshop; and expert parent panel member (event on the accessibility of books, sponsored by Hachette UK).