Focus and Scope
Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research (JBIR) is a multidisciplinary publication presenting primary research, scholarly reviews, and reports of innovative information, and research related to the blind. JBIR strives to publish research and professional discourse that broadens and deepens our understanding about blindness and the best practices for increasing the independence, self-respect, self-determination, and potential of individuals who are blind. JBIR is not a medical journal and does not intend to publish information related to the medical aspects of blindness. Relevant topics may include but are not limited to: the education/rehabilitation of the blind, innovations related to Braille and the use of Braille, techniques and tools for independent movement and travel by the blind, development of innovative technological approaches, findings that can effect advocacy related efforts, analysis of data sets providing descriptive information about the blind, and innovative practices in preparing professionals and paraprofessionals to work with the blind.
Section Policies
Research Manuscripts.
Research manuscripts include intervention studies, quantitative analyses, qualitative and case studies, survey design and psychometric investigation of scales and instruments, and reviews of research literature. Manuscripts should be between four thousand and eight thousand words in length.
Professional Practice.
Practice-oriented articles include descriptions of teaching/instructional strategies, curriculum, reviews of education, rehabilitation, and social systems, guidelines for practitioners, best-practices, and recommendations for professional standards. Manuscripts should be between three thousand and five thousand words in length.
Other Scholarly Work.
Other articles, not classified as research or professional practice may be submitted for consideration. This includes book reviews, philosophical compositions, critiques of laws, policy, or existing systems, and reports of a technical or theoretical nature. Manuscripts should be between one thousand and five thousand words.
Peer Review Process.
In selecting articles for publication, manuscripts are initially assigned to one section editor and screened for (a) appropriateness of content for JBIR; b) adherence to guidelines specified in the APA Publication Manual, (c) readability of text, and (d) explicit statement of implications for the practice of blindness innovation and research. When these criteria are met, the manuscript is reviewed by two or three peer reviewers who have documented expertise in the content area addressed and/or in the methodology employed in the article. When reviews are returned, the section editor assigned to the article considers reviewers' comments, independently evaluates the manuscript, and makes an editorial decision to reject, request a revision with the stipulation of further peer review, request a revision subject to review by the section editor, or accept as is.
Authors receive copies of reviewers' comments that preserve reviewers' anonymity. Reviewers are informed of the final disposition of the article and receive all reviewers' comments, which maintain the authors' and reviewers' anonymity.
Open Access Policy.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.