SCOPE AND TYPES OF CONTRIBUTION
The IJDD publishes scientific articles on work dealing with different approaches to the habilitation problems of people with an intellectual disability. The journal covers the entire spectrum of intellectual disabilities, and is concerned with definitions, IQ, genetic predisposition, evaluation of abilities, learning interventions, challenging behaviour, medication, attitudes to death and bereavement, sexuality, legal aspects, WHO, NICE and other governmental guidelines, care in the community, advocacy, stress and coping strategies for families and carers - though this is not an exhaustive list. The unifying theme is that all of these aspects should be of practical help for those with intellectual disabilities or those caring for persons with intellectual disabilities. Emphasis is placed on the practical implications of the work of educationists, instructors, nurses, occupational and other therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers, whether taking place in a hospital setting or in community care.
Types of contribution include:
• Original research papers - should usually be a maximum of 7,000 words (12pt, double spaced). Authors intending to submit longer papers should contact the editor. Papers should be divided into the following sections: Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion.
• Reviews - should be divided into the following sections: Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion
• Points of view
• Letters to the Editor
• Commentary
• Book reviews - should be emailed in a Microsoft Word Document to the Book Reviews Editor, Dr John Rose, at j.l.rose@bham.ac.uk. Reviews should include full citation information for the reviewed book, the editor and/or author(s) and the ISBN number.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Articles must be submitted online at http://jdd.edmgr.com. Instructions on how to register and submit a paper are available at this URL and author tutorials can be found at http://www.maneypublishing.com/index.php/editorial_manager_tutorials/.
For an initial submission you must upload a Word file containing the complete paper or a Word file containing the text, references, tables and figure captions plus an individual file of each figure, prepared to the specification laid out below. You will be asked to input separately the title, abstract and keywords for the article and contact details for all authors.
When submitting a revised article you must upload: (i) a text file in Word format, containing the revised text, references, tables and figure captions, prepared to the specification outlined below. LaTeX2e files will also usually be acceptable; (ii) a separate high resolution image file of each figure (see guidelines below); (iii) a response to the referees’ comments, as a Word or PDF file. It is not necessary to upload, for a second time, files that were uploaded with the initial submission and have not been altered.
BRIEF FORMATTING AND STYLE GUIDELINES
Preferred Language/Terminology: The IJDD prefers that up-to-date, internationally accepted terminology is used, therefore terms such as; people with, persons with, students with, adults with or children with intellectual disabilities are preferred (as opposed to other terms i.e. learning disabilities, mental handicap, mental retardation, mental deficiency or developmental disabilities) to ensure continuity of style. The descriptive preference is for the use of prepositional constructions e.g. people with intellectual disabilities, rather than adjectival constructions e.g. intellectual disabilities people.
In preparing the manuscript as a Word file, there is no need to format the article to a specific layout or template, but please include italic or bold type where necessary. Manuscripts must be written in English. Double spacing should be used throughout all portions of your manuscript and all pages should be numbered consecutively. Consistency in spacing, punctuation, and spelling is essential. The journal uses ‘ize’ spellings, e.g. ‘characterize’ not ‘characterise’.
Papers should be set out as follows with each section beginning on a separate sheet: title page, conflict-of-interest notification, ethical approval (where relevant) abstract and key words, text, acknowledgements, references, tables, captions to illustrations.
Abstracts The abstract should consist of not more than 250 words summarising the contents of the article. Original research papers and Reviews must include structured abstracts, which should be submitted under the following headings: Objectives; Methods; Results; Conclusion. These subsections should outline the questions investigated, the design, essential findings, and main conclusions of the study.
References should be presented in the Harvard style. References should be cited in the text as: (author, date: page). Where reference is made to more than one work by the same author, published in the same year, identify each citation in the text as follows: (Collins, 1998a), (Collins, 1998b). Where more than two authors are listed in the reference, please cite in the text as ‘Maxwell et al. (1999)’. An alphabetical references section should follow the text, formatted as follows: (where possible the DOI for the reference should be included at the end of the reference)
Journal articles
Lepore, F.E. (2002) ‘False and non-localizing signs in neuro-ophthalmology’, Current Opinion in Ophthalmology 13 (1): 371-374.
Book
Hare, R.D and Schalling, D. (1978) Psychopathic Behaviour: Approaches to Research. New York: Wiley.
Article in Book
Rance, G. Dowell, R.C. (1997) ‘Speech processor programming’, in G.M. Clark, R.S.C Cowan and R.C. Dowell (eds) Cochlear Implantation for Infants and Children – Advances, pp. 147-170. San Diego: Singular.
E-Journal
Evans, C. (2009) ‘Altered amino acid excretion in children with autism’, Nutritional Neuroscience 11(3), URL (consulted August, 2009): http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/nns.
STATISTICAL METHODS AND RESULTS
Authors submitting manuscripts containing statistical analysis should consider the guidelines set out here: http://www.equator-network.org/sampl-guidelines-for-statistical-reporting-/.
ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrations should be numbered sequentially using arabic numerals for figures. These should be submitted on separate pages. Each must have a caption and source. Sub-figures should be appropriately lettered in capitals (e.g. A, B); the size of letters should be appropriate to that of the illustration. Within the text, figures and tables should be referred to by number (e.g. Figure 1; Table 1), and preferred position and groupings should be clearly indicated within the text.
The author will be required to provide images in line with the text. Images should be submitted at a minimum input scanning resolution of 300 dpi for full colour, 350–400 dpi for half tones, 600 dpi for slides or transparencies, 800 dpi for simple line and 1200 dpi for fine line illustrations. Please note that the final reproduction quality is dependent on the quality of the original illustration.
The author will be required to obtain written evidence of permission to reproduce images (in all formats, in perpetuity and in all geographical regions worldwide) from the copyright owner for the use of any illustrative matter in the publication and will be liable for any fee charged by the owner of the image. The caption should include relevant credit of the permission of the copyright holder to reproduce the image.
Manipulation of images to enhance, obscure or remove individual features is not permitted. Adjustments of brightness, contrast or colour balance may be applied to the entire image provided the result does not mislead the viewer. Significant digital manipulation of images must be acknowledged in the figure caption.
ONLINE COLOUR
Colour illustrations will be published in the online version of the journal free of charge. Images submitted in colour will be published in black and white in the printed journal (unless paid for by the author). Authors should bear these requirements in mind when preparing images for submission.
PUBLISHING ETHICS
Maney’s healthcare journals are now members of COPE (the Committee on Publication Ethics). Neurological Research supports the ethical principles set out by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) available here on their website.
It is important that authors understand the need for the research undertaken to conform to the Helsinki declaration.
The authors will normally have to confirm that the study has been approved by a named Research Ethical Committee to be considered for publication. In addition the authors must ensure that there is no risk of duplicate publication. All authors of any kind of article submitted must declare any competing interests by completing a standard form, which will be sent to all authors at the conclusion of the peer review process. This should be returned with the revised manuscript. COPE has given guidance on the definition of competing interests: that they may influence the judgement of author, reviewers, and editors; that they may be personal, commercial, political, academic or financial. As a rough guide, they have been described as those which, when revealed later, would make a reasonable reader feel misled or deceived. In addition, all authors must declare that, where relevant, patient consent has been obtained and that all reasonable steps have been taken to maintain patient confidentiality report (see http://jama.ama-assn.org/ifora_current.dtl for full requirements of informed consent).
COPYRIGHT
Authors who wish to reproduce sections of text, tables or images from previously published sources or where the copyright is owned by a third party must obtain written permission from the copyright holder (usually the publisher) and the author(s)/artist(s) of the original material. A line giving the full source of the material should be included in the manuscript, including any specific wording stipulated by the copyright holder. Copyright is required for use in all formats (including digital, and (where appropriate) colour), in perpetuity and in all geographical regions worldwide. The author will be liable for any fee charged by the owner of the image. For more information and advice please see www.maneypublishing.com/authors/copyright.
PERMISSIONS
Any reproduction from this journal apart from for the purposes of review, private research or “fair dealing,” must have the permission of the copyright holder. Requests for such permission must be addressed to permissions@maneypublishing.com, who act on behalf of the copyright holder. In all cases, acknowledgement of the journal must be made.
PROOFS
Proofs will be supplied by email in PDF format to the first-named or nominated author. Proofs are supplied for checking and making essential typographical corrections only, not for general revision, alteration, or changes to illustrations. Revised proofs will not be supplied to authors.
EPRINTS
Authors receive a screen-resolution PDF file (Eprint) of the published version of their paper that they may circulate to colleagues, but may not use for commercial purposes or place into an institutional or subject specific repository. Pre- and post-print versions of an article may be posted in repositories, subject to full acknowledgement of the journal. Visit the Copyright and Permissions page www.maneypublishing.com/authors/copyright for full details, including exceptions to this policy. More information is also provided in the Assignment of Copyright Form distributed to authors with their proofs.
COMMERCIAL REPRINTS
Reprints of articles published in the Journal can be purchased through the Publisher. Please contact the Managing Editor for information and quotes. Contact Esme Loukota: e.loukota@maneypublishing.com.
CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST NOTIFICATION
It is the policy of Maney Publishing and the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities to adhere to the Conflict-of-Interest policy recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) http://www.icmje.org/ethical_4conflicts.html .
Relationships that could be viewed as presenting a conflict of interest must be declared at the submission stage. The corresponding author, or author responsible for the submission, must make the declaration on behalf of all co-authors. If there are no conflicts of interest, authors should explicitly state that there are none during the submission process.
Any affiliation with an organisation with a financial interest, direct or indirect, in the subject matter of the paper should be explicitly stated. Authors should make a full disclosure.
Authors should also identify individuals who provided writing or other assistance and disclose the funding source for the assistance.
The statement of conflict of interest will be printed at the end of the paper if accepted for publication after peer review. All papers in the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities either include a statement of conflict-of-interest, or indicate explicitly that there is none.
