ECHOS Young Storytellers Collective
Each Child Holds One Story
ECHOS Young Storytellers Collective is a community-based neurodiversity-affirming storytelling and publishing project for middle and high school students with disabilities.
At the heart of ECHOS is the goal of helping students experience the full journey of authorship, from first idea to finished book. Through this process, creating their own books becomes a powerful way to build confidence, voice, and a sense of ownership over their ideas.
Students are invited to submit original work that can be developed into a short book or photo-based narrative. Selected storytellers will receive support with editing, layout, and design to bring their work into a finished, printed format.
We are currently seeking submissions from students in grades 6–12. Submissions require a minimum of 8 pages of work. Submissions are welcome any time, but only 3 books wil lbe selected per year.
They may include:
• short stories, personal narratives, or poetry
• picture books with a narrative
• photo books or visual storytelling projects
• illustrated stories (hand-drawn or digital)
Work does not need to be complete or polished. Submit some samples and a description of the project and if selected the artist can work with Ms. Kate to help get the project off the ground.
Books will be printed in small runs and placed up for sale within the local community on a donation basis. Contributions directly support the printing of future student books and the continuation of the collective. There will be a publisher’s event for authors’s to celebrate their work in the summer months.
A limited number of projects will be selected for each cycle to ensure each student receives thoughtful, individualized support.