Submissions

Author Guidelines

Each edited volume will consist of 5-7 high-quality original articles, two disability perspective pieces, and 1-2 book/media reviews using critical theory to broaden disability discourses.

Submission Types

There are peer-reviewed and editor-reviewed submission types. 

Peer-Reviewed

Original articles (i.e., empirical, theoretical, conceptual)

Authors have a wide latitude in word count (4000-8000 words inclusive of references and tables or 15-25 double-spaced pages). Articles will critically address a question about an aspect of disability and offer a new angle of thought and insight. Articles will involve a critical argument rather than being merely descriptive. We will encourage authors to address their topics' ethical and social justice implications where applicable. APA 7.0 should be adhered to regarding headings, citations, paragraph formatting, quotes, and referencing.

Articles are peer-reviewed. Manuscripts can be submitted directly via email to gregproc@yorku.ca. Authors are encouraged to communicate directly with the Editor, as this ensures we can make the submission and review process more accessible. The managerial editor will reply to authors to confirm receipt or inform them that basic criteria have not been met. The managing editor will determine if the submission requires single—or double-anonymized peer review.

Editor-Reviewed

Disability Perspectives

Editor-reviewed perspectives pieces (2000-3000 words or 7-10 double-spaced pages inclusive of references) can, but are not limited to, address current issues in disability studies research, policy, advocacy, politics, or disrupting problematic disability discourses. Perspective pieces can allow emerging or established scholars to stimulate respectful debate and discussion. The managing and associate editors will provide mentoring and editing support to the author to help them present their ideas well.

Book/Media Reviews

We are considering proposals for book and media reviews for each edition of the journal. Unlike other journals, CDD doesn’t constantly keep an updated list of books and media to review. Instead, we welcome prospective reviewers to email gregproc@yorku.ca their book or media idea outlining its importance to disability studies, how the book/media is relevant to CDD’s mission, and whether other reviews exist. We ask that the book, media, or other visual or discursive mediums proposed to have been released within the last 3 years to ensure the reviews are current and responsive. In the matter of formats other than books, including audio-visual content, workshops, electronic sources or databases, and even special issue reviews produced by other journals. Reviews will critique disability-themed books, visual or listening media, computer software, or other discursive mediums through a critical disability studies lens.

Reviews can be submitted in two forms: First, a review of a single-text monograph or anthology, or second, lengthier academic reviews engaging multiple texts specific to a single theme or issue. Another term for the second form of double review is comparative text reviews that bring two book or media titles into the review. Single book or media reviews should be limited to 2 to 3 double-spaced pages (1000 words). Double reviews should range between 1000 words to 2000 words. Choose one to two broad themes to structure your review, avoiding chapter-by-chapter descriptive summaries. Book/media reviews must include the following: an overview of subject matter (synopsis of content, author’s expressed purpose and problem statement; major themes), an evaluation of content (how does the author organize the presentation, e.g., by topic or chronologically), and a recommendation. Reviews can integrate existing disability studies literature to support and or refute issues or elements raised by the author. Use specific snippets from the work reviewed to illustrate your remarks.

Media reviews can be of films, other journals’ special issues, podcasts, or any other non-print for information about or on disability studies. Writing book/media reviews is a wonderful opportunity for young scholars to get something published in a reputable journal. Moreover, it allows early career scholars to strengthen their academic writing portfolios. Submissions from independent scholars are welcome. Reviewers should have sufficient expertise about the field of the book or media they propose to review. Prospective book and media review proposals can be emailed to the Managing Editor, Greg Procknow, at gregproc@yorku.ca. Please include your name, institutional affiliation, position (e.g., PhD candidate), and current e-mail address in your proposals. Unsolicited book or media reviews will not be accepted. That is, the editor must approve review proposals. Reviews are not automatically accepted.

To promote inclusion and accessibility, audio or digital submissions are welcome as long as they are accompanied by closed captioning completed by the author or a third party. Artistic submissions with descriptive text are also welcome.

Special Issues

Proposals for special-themed issues of articles are welcome.  Commonly, prospective special issue editors will be the ones to oversee and edit article submission collections and manage the peer-review process. If you would like to submit a preliminary proposal (1 to 2 pages) for a themed issue and serve as editor, please email the Managing Editor directly at gregproc@yorku.ca. Include a brief author bio in the proposal and clearly state your qualifications for the proposed issue. If the proposal is accepted, we will gladly assist special issue editors during the process, such as by developing a call for special issue submissions.

The managing editor initially appraises all submitted manuscripts to meet our editorial standard; if found suitable for further consideration, the manuscript will be sent out to expert referees specializing in the topic. Amid secondary review, peer reviewers will have one week to consent to or reject the review of an article. Reviews will be submitted to the managing editor within four weeks. Accepted authors are informed that they have one month to incorporate changes and send the final draft. Articles accepted and ready for publication will be available online in 7 days or less.

There is no fee for publishing with CDD.

1. Articles must critically address a question about an aspect of disability and offer a new angle of thought and insight.
2. Articles must involve a critical argument, rather than be merely descriptive.
3. Articles must be submitted in either English of French. Authors must consent to the translation of their abstracts for publication.
4. In submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that the research is original and unpublished, is not in press or under consideration elsewhere, and will not be submitted elsewhere while under consideration by the Journal.
5. Articles must be 4,000-8,000 words (including quotations, references, footnotes, tables, figures, diagrams, and illustrations).
6. In promoting inclusion and accessibility, the Journal accepts and encourages tables, figures, diagrams, and illustrations within the article. However, all tables, figures, diagrams, and illustrations must include detailed written descriptions.
7. The author must include an abstract of 100-150 words summarizing the main arguments and themes of the article, the methods and results obtained, if the author’s own research was conducted, and the conclusions reached. A list of 5-7 keywords must also be included after the abstract.
8. We ask that authors are mindful of their language choices pertaining to disability and that they justify the use of controversial words.
9. Articles are peer-reviewed. Authors’ names and other identifying information must be removed in order to be sent to reviewers.
10. Authors are responsible for ethics approval for manuscripts by receiving approval from their own institutions. Proof of ethics approval (if applicable) must be provided to the Journal.
11. The Journal’s style follows the most recent edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). English spelling follows the most recent edition of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.
12. Authors of accepted manuscripts must license their work with Creative Commons.
13. The Journal does not produce a print edition. By submitting, authors are consenting to their articles being published online, accessible to the general public.
14. Manuscripts must be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font.
15. Authors are invited to submit their work through the website; email submissions to the Managing Editor, gregproc@yorku.ca, are also welcome.

Peer Review Process

Initial Review

Editors determine whether basic criteria for submissions are met:

• Anonymous
• Authors are emerging scholars
• 4,000-8,000 words
• Meets format guidelines
• Pertains to disability
• Is properly critical
• Is an argument - that is, is not merely descriptive

Managerial editors reply to authors either to confirm receipt or to inform authors that basic criteria have not been met.

Secondary Review

• Editors review abstracts and take responsibility for submissions pertaining to their area of expertise
• Editors decide which reviewers are best suited for each submission
• Peer reviewers are sent their assigned abstracts and given one week to consent or reject to reviewing an article
• Peer reviewers are sent anonymous submissions and review forms Editorial Review: 3 weeks
• Editors read submissions and review forms
• Editors decide whether submissions have passed secondary review
• Editors decide which comments to provide authors when articles are returned with feedback
• Editors decide which submissions should be published
  • Submissions will be evaluated alongside one another
  • The variety of topics will be evaluated
• Managerial Editor emails authors in order to reject or accept papers. In all cases, feedback is sent. Accepted authors are informed that they have one month to incorporate changes and send the final draft
• Editorial board accepts papers for publication if revisions are acceptable. In some cases, opportunities are provided for further revisions.

Copy-Editing

• Authors return their revised papers
• Copy-editors review submissions for mechanical problems
• Authors have one week to accept or discuss copy-editing changes
• Submissions are uploaded onto website

Policy Regarding Student Submissions

Papers cannot be school assignments currently being prepared for a course submission. Submitting any piece derived from coursework before course grading would be a violation of your school’s academic dishonesty policies.

Unfortunately, plagiarism, falsifying data, and inappropriately crediting authorship to works do arise. Editors verify the originality of content submitted to CDD by using iThenticate to check submissions against previous publications.

Policy Regarding AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

AI and AI-assisted technologies can improve the readability and language of submissions but should not replace the key authoring tasks of drawing insights, conclusions, or providing recommendations. This technology can be used when it’s part of the author(s) research design or research methods. The procedures used must be reproduced in the methods section of the manuscript. This technology must not be used on previously published works (e.g., it cannot be used to summarize or rewrite previously published works, including the author’s own work), creating or altering images, or producing artwork for inclusion in submitted manuscripts. Our AI policy does not prohibit the use of spelling or grammar checkers such as Grammarly.