SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

About the Journal

The International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is a free electronic journal for nurses, individuals, families and others interested in promoting optimal health and nursing supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is dedicated to meeting the information needs of those who seek effective ways of supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The journal seeks to provide information and resources in a scholarly manner on a wide range of topics and will address clinical, non-clinical and research issues that have implications for nursing and nurses.

The journal will provide information about nursing practice, individual, family and caregiver partnerships; educational strategies, policy development, research and a wide variety of clinical topics.

The International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is a blind peer-reviewed journal whose editorial board members represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds from across the United States and other countries.

Editorial Policy

Language

Authors should use language that emphasizes the humanity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Generic descriptive terms such as individuals, people, participants, students, children, and adults are preferred over patients, clients, consumers, subjects or informants. Language should be free of gender bias. He/she is the preferred terminology to refer to persons of both genders.

Revisions and Corrections

The editor reserves the right to reject manuscripts that fall significantly short of the standards contained in this editorial policy and to make editorial changes in accepted articles that do not alter the meaning of the text.

Editorial Information for Authors: Journal Articles

Review Process and Editorial Decision

Articles submitted to the journal are subject to blind peer review by two to three reviewers selected by the editor or peer review editor. The review process is usually completed within three months of receipt of the manuscript. The International Journal of Nursing in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities strives toward fairness and courteousness in the review process.

Criteria for Acceptance

Articles are judged on relevance to policy or practice, potential international reader interest, accurate and judicious use of citations, originality, and clarity of writing. Authors should address the implications of their articles for policy and nursing practice, if not apparent. Appropriate citation should be made to support ideas mentioned in the manuscript. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their references. Original publications only will be accepted for inclusion in the journal.

Style

In general, the journal conforms to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, available on-line at www.icmje.org/index.html. Manuscripts should be submitted on compact disk (CD) or via e-mail attachment (Microsoft Word), in Arial font, with at least 1-inch margins on all sides with paragraphs left justified. Font size should be 10 point, with the exception of title and major headings, which should be in 12-point font. Major headings should be bold upper case and subheadings bold lower case, with additional headings in lower case, regular underlined font. Manuscripts should range in length from 3500 to 4500 words.

An abstract of no more than 250 words should be included, along with 4-6 key words for indexing purposes. The abstract should briefly summarize the major issue or topic being addressed, and the findings and/or conclusions of the article.

Tables and figures should include a brief title for each and referenced in the text preceding it.

Permission is required for use or reuse of any figures or tables that are borrowed, published or not published, including those figures or tables that are adapted or modified. If modified, specific permission must be obtained to adapt or modify. When unpublished personal photographs are used, photo releases must be obtained from all identifiable persons. Release forms (signed, dated and witnessed) must accompany photographs of human subjects. If photos are from another source, please indicate, "Photo courtesy of…name, location."

References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text. Authors will be responsible for proper documentation of sources of borrowed material. Use the style of the examples listed under References in Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals, available on-line at www.icmje.org/index.html.

Acknowledgements, if any, should follow references.

A brief biographical summary of the author(s) should be included at the end of the manuscript. Authors should indicate their corresponding address, which they wish printed with their article.

Submission

Manuscripts, including the above information, and a letter of submission stating that the manuscript is not under review by any other journal should be submitted on a CD or via email attachment to the editor: