As the official journal of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) publishes scientific articles related to the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that report research on a broad range of topics related to AAC across the globe. The AAC journal presents four issues a year in March, June, September, and December in cooperation with our publisher, Taylor & Francis.
The purpose of this panel discussion is to share details about the four components related to the journal’s production in an exchange with session participants. These components include submission, review, publication, and reading the journal. Below is a brief overview of the four components:
1. Manuscript Submission. Manuscripts are submitted through an online web-based process known as Scholar One. Submitters to the journal include ISAAC members as well as others who have research-related content to share with the journal’s readership. Manuscripts must comply with the Journal’s submission requirements.
2. Review Process. The journal has a review process that includes editors, associate editors, an editorial assistant, and reviewers. Authorship is masked so that the authors are unknown to the reviewers during the review process.
3. Publication of Accepted Manuscripts. Once a manuscript is accepted for publication in the journal, the production process begins at Taylor & Francis. The manuscript is edited and typeset, and then the authors and editor are asked to proofread the typeset manuscript. Any minor corrections are incorporated, and the manuscript is then published online. It is then in the cue for publication in an issue, both online and hard copy.
4. Reading Published Articles and Journal Issues. Once a manuscript is published, it is available for subscribers and others with access to read. We will discuss the concepts of open access and free access as they relate to the AAC journal and Taylor & Francis policies. We will also include how to subscribe to the journal.
In addition to discussing these four steps, we will integrate the accessibility of the journal’s production process for AAC users and others with disabilities. This discussion will include accommodations that can ensure a more inclusive publication environment. We will also highlight how the journal is sharing information through The ISAAC Communicator and the new journal web page on the ISAAC website. As we discuss the components briefly described above, we will reference the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which brings together all those involved in scholarly research and its publication, to strengthen the network of support, education, and debate in publication ethics. Through Taylor & Francis, our journal is a member.
