Author Guidelines

The International Disability and Inclusion Journal (IDIJ) welcomes original, high-quality scholarly work that engages critically with issues of disability, accessibility, equity, and inclusion across global contexts. These guidelines provide essential information for prospective authors regarding the journal's scope, submission eligibility, and expectations for all manuscript types.

 

  1. Scope of the Journal

IDIJ publishes research that centers disability as a category of analysis, advocacy, identity, or lived experience. Submissions may include—but are not limited to—topics such as:

  • Disability studies 
  • Inclusive education
  • Innovation and Assistive Technologies
  • Accessibility and Accommodation-
  • Intersectional Approaches to Disability

 

  1. Types of Submissions

IDIJ accepts the following types of submissions:

  • Original Research Articles: Empirical, theoretical, or conceptual papers between 5,000 and 7,000 words, excluding references.
  • Critical Essays: Thought-provoking analyses or arguments related to disability studies, policy, or practice.
  • Practice-Based Reports: Evidence-informed reflections from practitioners, organizations, or communities working in disability spaces.
  • Book or Media Reviews: Reviews of recent books, documentaries, or media relevant to disability studies (up to 1,500 words).

 

  1. Language and Accessibility

Manuscripts must be written in clear, accessible academic English. Authors are encouraged to use inclusive and respectful language that affirms the dignity of people with disabilities and avoids ableist terminology. If specific terminology is contested or reclaimed, authors should contextualize its use.

IDIJ encourages submissions from authors across geographic regions, disciplines, and career stages. The journal supports language justice and welcomes multilingual abstracts or keywords where appropriate.

 

  1. Open Access and Fees

IDIJ is a fully open-access journal. All content is freely available to readers worldwide, and there are no article processing charges (APCs) or submission fees. This policy reflects our commitment to equitable and inclusive knowledge production and dissemination.

 

  1. Editorial Ethics and Integrity

All submissions must comply with the journal’s standards on academic integrity, ethical research, and informed consent. Authors must ensure:

  • Originality of work
  • Proper citation of sources
  • Ethical treatment of research participants
  • Full disclosure of conflicts of interest and funding sources

Details on ethical standards can be found in the IDIJ Publication Ethics Statement and Informed Consent Policy.

 

  1. How to Submit

Manuscripts must be submitted via the journal’s online submission system at [insert submission portal link]. Authors will be required to complete an Author Declaration Form and ensure all manuscript files are anonymized for review.

For full submission instructions, template downloads, and editorial contact information, please visit the IDIJ website or contact the editorial office.

 

Submission Preparation Guidelines

Authors submitting to IDIJ are required to carefully review and adhere to the following guidelines to ensure their manuscript is eligible for peer review. Submissions that do not meet these standards will be returned to the author without review.

Originality and Exclusivity

Manuscripts must be original works that have not been previously published in any form, including online or in print. Additionally, we require that the manuscript not be currently under consideration by any other journal, book, or publication outlet. Simultaneous submissions violate our ethical policies and will result in immediate withdrawal from the review process.

Relevance to Disability Studies

The journal is dedicated to advancing scholarship in the field of disability studies. Therefore, all submissions must directly engage with issues related to disability, whether through theoretical analysis, empirical research, policy critique, or lived experience. Submissions that do not clearly demonstrate this focus will not be considered.

Manuscript Length

To maintain consistency and editorial balance, we require that submissions fall within a specified word count range. The main body of the manuscript (excluding references, tables, and figures) must be no less than 5,000 words and no more than 7,000 words. Authors should ensure that the manuscript is sufficiently developed to support a rigorous scholarly argument while remaining within the limits.

Formatting Requirements

All manuscripts must be prepared using the official IDIJ template format. This includes standardized headings, spacing, font usage, citation style integration, and layout structure. Submissions that do not follow this format will be returned for revision prior to any editorial or peer review. The template can be downloaded from our submission portal or from the journal's website.

Reference Standards

Citations and references must be formatted according to the APA 7th edition style guide. Authors are strongly encouraged to use a reference management tool such as EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley to ensure consistency and accuracy in citation formatting.

Furthermore, to maintain scholarly relevance, we expect that the majority of sources cited are published within the last 10 years. Older foundational works may be included where appropriate; however, the core of the bibliography should primarily reflect current research and discourse in the field.

Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting your manuscript to [Journal Name], please ensure that it meets all of the following requirements:

  • Originality
  • The manuscript has not been published previously.
  • It is not currently under review with any other journal or publication.
  • Scope
  • The manuscript addresses issues related to disability in a meaningful and scholarly manner.
  • Length
  • The manuscript is between 5,000 and 7,000 words, excluding references, tables, and figures.
  • Formatting
  • The manuscript follows the IDIJ template format. Submissions that do not use the template will be returned without review.
  • References
  • All references are cited in APA 7th edition style.
  • A reference management tool (e.g., EndNote, Zotero, Mendeley) has been used.
  • At least the majority of references are from the past 10-15 years to ensure currency and relevance.

 

Submissions that do not meet all of the above criteria will not proceed to peer review.