EDITORIAL POLICY & AUTHOR GUIDELINES

The Pennsylvia Journal on Positive Approaches is published by the Office of Mental Retardation Statewide Training Initiative through Temple University, Institute on Disabilities, UAP and Contract Consultants, Inc.

  • Anyone Involved in supporting people with developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation is encouraged to submit case studies and highlights of specific practices or tools that promote or describe Positive Approaches. Administrators or programs (private, state, county, local) are also encouraged to submit manuscripts discussing regulations and their implications and interpretations as they apply and impact upon Positive Approaches.

  • Manuscripts should be 3 - 4 pages in length (case studies may be longer), including references. Pages must be double-spaced on one side of 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper with at least one inch margins. Three (3) copies should be submitted.

  • Confidentiality of any person(s) involved in the case study should be maintained and is the responsibility of the author.

  • A cover page should include the title of the article, (case studies should also include a brief abstract), the name, position, place of employment, mailing address, phone number and 2 - 3 sentence description of background and experience of each author. Do not include the author's name on page 1 of the article.

  • Illustrative material and charts must be camera-ready.

  • Authors assume full responsibility for the accuracy of the content in their articles, including references, quotations, tables and figures.

  • Articles that are or are not accepted will not be returned. The author should keep a copy of the manuscript.

  • Words such as "the handicapped" and "the retarded" should never be used as nouns. In general, phrases such as "persons with disabilities" and "children with autism" are appropriate. A term more descriptive than "subjects" should be used in empirical research reports: a pseudonym first (children) or last (adults) name is generally acceptable.

  • Articles submitted are sent for review to anonymous reviewers, selected from the Editorial Board, who are selected for particular expertise and interest in the topic involved. Editorial decisions will be sent to the author along with a summary of information critical to the decisions, and, if appropriate, for the revision of the manuscript for either publication or resubmission for a second review.

  • Authors submitting a manuscript do so with the understanding that if it is accepted for publication, copyright belongs with The PA Journal on Positive Approaches, including the right to reproduce the article in all forms and media, and not to the author. The publishers will not refuse any reasonable request by the author and/or others for permission to reproduce any of his or her contributions to the journal. Requests to reprint, cite excerpts, and so forth, are sent to the editors c/o Contract Consultants, Inc., who will grant permission (and will usually consult with the corresponding author).

  • To publish reprinted Positive Approaches material, a written request for permission should be made to Contract Consultants, Inc. Permission to make photocopies is not required, however, the copyright notice must appear on all copies.

  • Authors whose manuscripts are accepted for publication will receive a complimentary copy of the edition in which their manuscript appears. There is no remuneration for articles accepted. There is no fee for review of the manuscript.

    The Pennsylvania Journal on Positive Approaches is published by the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation (OMR) Statewide Training Initiative through Temple University, Institute on Disabilities, University affiliated Program and Contract Consultants, Inc., 105 Old York Road, New Cumberland, PA 17070. For subscription information, please contact Contract Consultants, Inc. at [717] 774 - 5455. Copyright © 1996 OMR/CCI. All rights reserved.

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