The coverage of DisabilityWorld has well-defined parameters. The following outlines the criteria and policies for acceptance of articles, reports & information; article lengths; deadlines; and technical formats accepted for text and illustrations:

• International in scope: meaning priority is given to material describing projects and initiatives supported by more than one country, e.g., regional & world non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations, or technical assistance between countries.
  
  
• Emphases: since 2005, preference is given to material reporting on or providing insights about disability and development, meaning initiatives and activities to improve the status of the estimated 400 million children, youth and adults with disabilities living in poor countries. However, best practices from other countries are also showcased.
  
  
• International disability rights & independent living framework: as there is little in the literature to document the growth, achievements, weaknesses and influence of the international disability rights and independent living social change movement, this has been established as the overarching framework of DisabilityWorld. There are many established journals reporting on disability and rehabilitation research, numerous newsletters reporting on advances and activities from the point of view of specialized interest groups, and numerous disability websites offering information, products and services. DisabilityWorld is distinct in its international outlook and spotlight on progress in and obstacles to the achievement of disability rights worldwide.

Categorical Types of Articles
The following are categories of articles accepted for DisabilityWorld:

• Country perspectives: covering progress and obstacles in national and/or innovative approaches to policies & programs. We are especially looking for reports and summaries of research, advocacy, policies and services on a national level.
  
  
• Topical perspectives: articles reporting news or research or providing a point of view about disability and development: initiatives and activities to improve the rights, resources and status of children, youth and adults with disabilities living in poor countries.
  
  
• International News & Views: articles presenting historical or contemporary overview or evaluation of international disability-related developments, paradigms or approaches.
  
  
• Interviews of leaders and influential individuals or those with viewpoints or experience of interest to an international audience.
  
  
• Humor or satire: although we did not anticipate this as a category when planning DisabilityWorld, we have received some entertaining entries and encourage future creativity in this vein.
  
  
• Reviews or annotated recommendations of disability-related web sites, books, films, journals, etc.
  
  
• Events & Announcements: short descriptions of forthcoming international events and opportunities for readers to contribute to research, publications, conferences, events or other products.
  
  
• Artwork: innovative artists are featured in every issue of DisabilityWorld and artwork is accepted as illustrations for articles. Primarily, we intend to showcase the work of artists with disabilities who perceive the disability experience as one of the influences on their art. We featured works by artists from both the fine and performing branches of the arts. As with everything concerning art, this is difficult to define, but if you would like your works considered, please contact the Webmaster at disabilityworld@wid.org who can advise you what technical formats can best be displayed.

Submission Deadlines
Articles should be sent to the Editor, editor@disabilityworld.org due on the 10th of the month.

Policy on First Submissions & Reprints
As is true of other periodicals on or off the web, DisabilityWorld prefers to publish original articles or first time submissions. However, in order to advance its goal of wider international dissemination of information important to the disability community, we will reprint significant articles that have appeared in print format elsewhere, but have had limited circulation. If the material has appeared previously on the web, we prefer to post a summary of the key points and a link to that website.

We can only reprint material if the authors provide permissions to reprint and citations of where the article has appeared previously so that it is clear that DisabilityWorld is not transgressing copyright or other exclusive agreements.

Policy on Language & Translation
Currently, the only language of publication is English. Although issues 1-23 are available in both English and Spanish, DisabilityWorld has no funds for translation at this time. As of January 2007, we have no immediate plans to publish in other languages but are open to proposals and opinions.

Policy on Format for Submission of Material
At this point, DisabilityWorld exists only in an electronic format and therefore we can only accept electronic submissions of material.

Submissions should be sent as an attached Microsoft Word document. If you do not have Word, save your article as a ".txt" format file (for example, MyArticle.txt). If you wish to receive credit for your work or be contacted by Disability World readers, please include a byline of your name and email address after the title.

Graphics
Graphics are welcome. If you are able to scan your own photos or artwork, graphics should be submitted in JPG, TIF, PSD, or PNG formats. Disability World can also scan photographs, slides, or two-dimensional artwork to accompany articles if writers do not have access to a scanner; contact disabilityworld@wid.org for details. Please include an appropriate caption or description with each image. If the image includes essential content (for example, a chart or graph, or a photograph accompanied by text that assumes the user can see undescribed details of the photograph), include as long a description as necessary to convey the essential information to readers using screen reader technology.