2026 AAC Community Calendar Competition – Rules and Guidelines
Official Rules & Guidelines
Table of Contents
Competition Overview
The Liberator AAC Community Calendar Competition celebrates the stories, creativity, and achievements of AAC communicators and their support networks. Selected submissions will be featured in our 2026 wall calendar.
Eligibility
Who Can Enter:
- AAC communicators of all ages
- Family members and caregivers
- Speech pathologists and therapy professionals
- Educators and school staff
- Staff from therapy centres and disability support services
- Anyone connected to our AAC community
Geographic Scope:
Open internationally, with focus on Australian community
What We’re Looking For
Acceptable Submissions:
- Original photographs (digital or scanned)
- Digital artwork and illustrations
- Mixed media creative pieces (photographed/scanned)
- Creative photography showcasing communication journeys
Themes We Love:
- Daily life moments and experiences
- Communication successes and breakthroughs
- Creative expressions and artistic works
- Community connections and relationships
- Achievements and milestones
- AAC devices and communication tools in action
- Family and support network moments
- Educational or therapy settings
- Recreational activities and hobbies
- Technical Requirements
File Specifications:
- Resolution: Minimum 300 DPI for print quality
- Format: JPEG, PNG, or TIFF
- Size: Minimum 2000 x 1500 pixels
- File size: Maximum 25MB per submission
- Colour: Full colour preferred (black and white accepted)
Image Quality Standards:
- Clear, well-lit photographs
- In focus with good contrast
- Suitable for calendar reproduction
- Professional quality not required – authentic moments welcomed
Submission Process
How to Submit:
- Visit [website submission portal]
- Upload your image file(s)
- Complete submission form including:
- Your name and contact information
- Brief description of your submission (up to 100 words)
- Optional: Tell us about yourself/your story (up to 150 words)
- Consent and permissions
- Maximum 3 submissions per person/family
Submission Descriptions:
- Brief description of your submission (up to 100 words) – required
- Optional: Tell us about yourself/your story (up to 150 words)
Description Guidelines:
- Content appropriateness: Descriptions must be suitable for all audiences and family-friendly
- Respectful language: Use positive, empowering language that aligns with our community values
- Privacy considerations: Avoid sharing personal details like full names of others, addresses, medical specifics, or school names
- Focus on the positive: Highlight achievements, connections, creativity, and authentic experiences
- Editorial rights: Liberator reserves the right to edit descriptions for:
- Length and clarity
- Privacy protection (removing identifying details)
- Tone alignment with our brand voice
- Grammar and readability
- Community guidelines compliance
Approval process: Any significant edits will be discussed with you before publication
Your voice matters: We aim to preserve your authentic voice while ensuring appropriateness for our diverse audience
Deadline: September 30, 2025, 11:59 PM AEST
Selection Process
Judging Panel:
- Liberator AEA’s
- Graphic Designer
Selection Criteria:
- Authentic representation of AAC community experiences
- Liberator staff members
- Visual quality suitable for calendar reproduction
- Diversity of stories and perspectives
- Encouraging or educational
- Technical quality and clarity
What We’ll Select:
- 12 monthly features (one per month)
- 1 cover image
- Additional images may be featured in smaller formats, including monthly thumbnails and page accents:
Rights & Permissions
By Submitting, You Grant:
- Non-exclusive rights to Liberator to reproduce your image in the 2026 calendar
- Permission to use your image in promotional materials related to the calendar
- Right to crop, resize, or make minor adjustments for calendar layout
You Retain:
- Full ownership of your original work
- Right to use your image for any other purpose
Required Permissions:
- If people appear in your image, you must have their consent
- For minors, parent/guardian consent is required
- For clients/students, appropriate professional permissions needed
Privacy & Consent
Photo Consent:
- All individuals appearing in photos must consent to publication
- For children under 18, parent/guardian consent required
- For adults with intellectual disabilities, appropriate consent processes must be followed
Personal Information:
- Only share information you’re comfortable making public
- Submissions may be shared on social media and promotional materials related to next year’s Calendar Competition (social media, promotional poster).
- Contact details will not be published without permission
Winner Recognition
Featured Contributors Receive:
- Recognition in the calendar
- High-quality printed and digital copy of the completed calendar
- Feature on Liberator social media and website
- Certificate of thanks for participating
Timeline:
- Submission deadline: September 30, 2025
- Winner notification: October 15, 2025
- Calendar release: Mid-November 2025
Important Notes
Unsuccessful submissions:
Not all submissions can be chosen for the final design. The judging panel will make all decisions at our discretion. We may not be able to provide justification or explanation to those who are unsuccessful.
Content Guidelines:
- Images must be appropriate for all audiences
- No commercial advertising or branding (except AAC devices)
- Respectful representation of disability community
- Focus on empowerment and authentic experiences
Technical Support:
Help available for file format questions
Assistance with submission process
Contact: competition@liberator.net.au or 02 9124 9945
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I don’t have a high-resolution camera?
A: Smartphone photos are often sufficient!
Q: Can I submit photos of my AAC device?
A: Absolutely! We love seeing communication tools in action.
Q: What if someone in my photo doesn’t want to be identified?
A: We can blur faces or use images where individuals aren’t clearly identifiable while still telling your story.
Q: Can educators submit photos of students?
A: Yes, with proper permissions and school/family consent.
Submission Problems: If you experience technical difficulties, email your submission directly to competition@liberator.net.au with “Calendar Competition” in the subject line.