Editorial Policy

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) (Print ISSN: 1934-9491; Online ISSN: 1934-9556) is published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). IDD is a multidisciplinary journal of policy, practices, and perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and other professionals interested in intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities. As a journal with an applied focus, IDD provides a forum for the dissemination of rigorously reviewed, actionable information that is relevant to emerging policies, innovative practices, and transformative concepts.

Original research articles may include studies of new teaching approaches, program developments, assessment tools, program evaluation, service utilization, community adjustment and quality of life, public policies and legal issues, and approaches to professional development. AAIDD encourages a diversity of contributions from different traditions of inquiry and disciplines; all studies must meet the criterion of rigor and peer review.

Article-length theoretical pieces, conceptual papers, and literature reviews are welcome and include syntheses of recent research or topical debates on topics of interest to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ideal manuscript would challenge or seek to modify established models or understandings of issues or provide new insights on emerging issues. Authors are expected to articulate a point of view in a reasoned analysis, balanced against opposing perspectives, and to provide readers with important questions yet to be answered. The combination or integration of paradigms and concepts from diverse disciplines is especially welcome. Anecdotal narratives, case reports, simple descriptive summaries, or personal accounts that do not synthesize a larger literature will not be accepted.

All submitted papers are peer-reviewed by experts in the content area. To be published, a paper must conform to the standards of scholarship in the disciplines identified with its content. The IDD editorial board members represent a broad spectrum of professional disciplines and are actively contributing to the field in diverse settings that include universities, research centers, public and private human service organizations, and governmental agencies. All papers, regardless of type, should be of relevance and interest to a multidisciplinary, professional audience. IDD’s fundamental mission is to meet the information needs of those who seek effective ways to support people with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities.