1. The aim of the journal is to publish original research or original contributions to the existing literature on learning disabilities. When submitting papers for consideration, please attach a letter confirming that all authors have agreed to the submission, and that the article is not currently being considered for publication by any other paper or electronic journal.
2. Each paper submitted, if considered suitable by the Editor, will be refereed by at least two anonymous referees, and the Editor may recommend revision and re-submission.
3. Assistance with first paper. Submitting a scholarly paper for publication can be demanding. If you have an idea for a paper, but feel inexperienced, write to the Editor enclosing an A4 SAE, and we will send information on writing for publication along with details of our mentoring system.
4. Length of papers. Your manuscript should ideally be between 2000 and 3000 words long. Please also supply an abstract of 100-150 words, and up to five keywords, arranged in alphabetical order.
5. When submitting papers for consideration, please supply a total of three paper copies and a disk version (containing text and all illustrations). Rejected papers will not be returned to authors.
6. Your typescript (written in English) needs to be typed using double spacing on one side only of white A4 or US standard size paper, with generous left- and right-hand margins (at least 3 cm) but without justification.
7. Your title page should give: one first name as well as the surname and any initials for each author; a maximum of four degrees/qualifications for each author and the current relevant appointment only; authors' accurate postal addresses; daytime telephone numbers, and fax and email numbers.
8. Quotations. Lengthy quotations (over 40 words) should be displayed and indented in the text.
9. American or UK spellings may be used. Please indicate italics by underlining and use single quotation marks. Dates should be in the form '9 May 1995'. Delete points from 'USA' and other such abbreviations.
10. If the paper is accepted for publication, a copy of the final version will be required on disk, preferably in a PC-compatible format. The author is responsible for ensuring that the final hard copy and the diskette versions are identical.
11. Tables. You should present tables in your manuscript typed double-spaced on separate sheets and containing only horizontal rules. Each table needs a short descriptive title above it. Column headings should clearly define the data presented. If necessary, suitably identified footnotes should be included below. Take care to include all the units of measurement. The table needs to be cited in the text.
12. Figures. Line drawings should be presented as camera-ready copy on glossy paper (b/w, unless to be reproduced - by arrangement - in colour) and, if possible, on disk as EPS files (all fonts embedded) or TIFF files, 800 dpi - b/w only. For scanning, photographs should preferably be submitted as clear, glossy, unmounted b/w prints with a good range of contrast or on disk as TIFF files, 300 dpi.
13. References in the text should be presented in the Harvard system, i.e. the author's name and year of publication in brackets, together with the page numbers, e.g. 'As Booth (1994.pp. 22-3) has observed', or, in a more general reference: 'Booth (1994) appears to be saying . . .'.
14. Reference list. The references should be listed alphabetically
in full at the end of the paper, typed double-spaced for ease of
editing, in the following style:
GATES, B. (2003) Learning Disabilities. Edinburgh: Churchill
Livingstone.
McCONKEY, R. & MEZZE, F. (2001) 'Employment Aspirations of
People with Learning Disabilities Attending Day Centres',
Journal of Learning Disabilities 5 (4): 309-318.
TURNBULL, J. (2000) 'Cognitive Behavioural Interventions', in
GATES, B., GEAR, J. & WRAY, J., Behavioural Distress, pp. 257-279.
London: Bailliere Tindall.
In multi-authored articles, the names of all authors should be
given in the reference list. In the text, if there are more than
two names, please give the first name and et al.
15. Language and terminology. Jargon or unnecessary technical language should be avoided, as should the use of abbreviations (such as coded names for conditions). Please avoid the use of nouns as verbs (e.g. to access), and the use of adjectives as nouns (e.g. autistics, normals or retardates). Language that might be deemed sexist or racist should not be used.
16. Abbreviations. As far as possible, please avoid the use of initials, except for terms in common use. Please provide a list, in alphabetical order, of abbreviations used, and spell them out (with the abbreviations in brackets) the first time they are mentioned in the text.
17. The corresponding author will receive page proofs for checking. Twenty-five free offprints will be sent to the corresponding author, and each of the co-authors will receive a free copy of the journal.
19. Typescripts. Authors should retain one copy of their typescript and send three copies and a disk version, each fully numbered and legible, together with all figures and tables and a covering letter, to:- Bob Gates, Journal of Intellectual Disabilities c/o Ms M Hatton, Editorial Assistant, 43 Dene Road, Cottingham, HU16 5PD, UK. Or, alternatively, submission via e-mail to: mlnhatton@mlnhatton.karoo.co.uk
20. Reviews. Books for review should be sent to: O. Barr, Department of Nursing, South Building, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK.
English Language Editing Services: Please click here for information on professional English language editing services recommended by SAGE.
If you wish your article to be freely available online immediately upon publication (as some funding bodies now require), you can opt for it to be included in SAGE Open subject to payment of a publication fee. Manuscript submission and refereeing procedure is unchanged. On acceptance of your article, you will be asked to let SAGE know directly if you are choosing SAGE Open. For further information, please
visit http://www.uk.sagepub.com/sageopen.sp
