Disabilities: A New Journal Devoted to Inter- and Multi-Disciplinary Disability Research

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Disabilities. This journal is dedicated to the dissemination of robustly peer-reviewed publications on disability and related topics. The launch of this journal is truly exciting. The journal is burgeoning with promise to become a widely respected and world leading journal of disability research. As a new open access journal dedicated to the publication and worldwide dissemination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research on disability research, we are energised to promote greater global understanding of critical issues related to this research field.

The title “Disabilities” accentuates the idea that disability is a multi-dimensional construct, involving diverse populations, encompassing many disciplines and professions, and requiring sophisticated and advanced solutions to complex human problems [1,2,3]. While acknowledging the valuable contributions of medical and allied health research, with the launch of this new journal, we aim to also interrogate the connections between medical practice and stigmatising disability [4]. Therefore, we encourage papers that explore models and theories that examine social, cultural, economic, and political factors that shape disability research. We are particularly interested in international perspectives, policies, and literature, with the explicit aim of placing current ideas of disability within their broadest possible context, which will help to establish personal and collective responses to difference.

Disabilities publishes original research including randomised controlled trials, case studies, and feasibility and pilot studies, involving both qualitative and quantitative studies. We also publish research protocols and study designs, as well as review articles (e.g., systematic reviews, scoping reviews, narrative reviews, and critical reviews). We welcome current topics and opinion pieces (e.g., policy, regulation, and legislation digests), editorials, commentaries, and brief communications. The scope of this journal includes, but is not limited to, research related to physical disability, intellectual disability, developmental disability, mental health disability, injury, chronic illness, rehabilitation, and assistive technology. Given that disability research is the nexus of many overlapping disciplines and professions in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, we explicitly encourage the submission of papers involving inter- and multi-disciplinary research from all disciplines and professions that conduct disability research, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, physiotherapy, psychology, exercise sports sciences, and nursing. We welcome papers that bring new insights to longstanding mainstream issues, while encouraging authors to tackle new topics on understudied matters and populations.

As an open access journal, Disabilities aims to provide high visibility and a timely research impact and is committed to rapid publication. The editorial board brings together international experts from different fields and disciplines, with substantial collective scientific acumen. The editorial board of this journal will ensure that all steps of submission, peer-review, and final preparation of proofs respect the journal publication goals and deadlines.

Disabilities will not charge any publishing fees for manuscripts submitted by 31 December 2021 and accepted for publication following the standard peer review process. The outstanding systems and standards that MDPI have developed over the years facilitate achieving the timely and high-quality review of submitted articles, and online publication allows rapid dissemination. There is no restriction on the length of papers and no additional charges for colour figures. The journal allows the deposit of electronic files as supplementary materials, supplying details of calculations and of experimental procedures.

We look forward to working together with you—researchers, scientists, and scholars—to make Disabilities a respected source of research and ideas about recent advances. We consider it a privilege to be working with you in realising this vision, and we look forward to receiving your contribution. Your contribution to Disabilities will give you an opportunity to shape a respected journal in the field, but also in initiating new conversations within the field of disability research, thereby influencing the direction of future research in the field.