Co-edited by Professor Christine Bigby (Editor) and Dr Alan Hough (Guest Editor)
Call for Expressions of Interest and Articles
The Royal Commission on Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disabilities was established in April 2019, and will deliver its final report by 29 September 2023. The Commission has held 33 public hearings and many more private hearings, it has commissioned research reports, published issues papers, findings, and interim reports, as well as received hundreds of submissions from individuals and organisations. It has probably been the most ideologically-driven of Australia’s Royal Commissions. The breadth of its work has been remarkable, and it has delved into the many diverse sectors, service systems, and policies that impact on the lives of people with disabilities, as well as seeking out their perspectives on their own lived experiences. Much of the evidence heard by the Commission has considered the quality of life and service experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, although they have seldom been identified as a distinct group. The final report and recommendations of the Commission might have a far-reaching impact on future policy and practice, although the ability of governments to ignore or resist the recommendations of Royal Commissions should not be underestimated.
Following the work of the Commission has been gut-wrenching, frustrating, as well as, at times, enlightening. Academics, service providers, and commentators have followed the parts of the Commission’s work of particular interest to them. Few will have had the time to synthesise this emerging body of knowledge. Fewer still will have considered the extent to which the Commission has drawn out the issues most relevant to people with intellectual disabilities and its implications of its work for this group of people.
This Special Issue of RAPIDD will ensure there is a collection of thoughtful and critical commentaries about the findings and potential impact of the Commission’s recommendations for people with intellectual disabilities.
We aim to publish a set of articles that summarise and critically analyse aspects of the Commission’s findings and recommendations that are relevant to people with intellectual disabilities. We anticipate authors will select a topic based on their expertise and write a focussed and concise summary and critique of the Commission’s work around this topic. For example, it may be a specific group of people, such as those living in group homes or incarcerated in the criminal justice system, or an issue regarding a sector or a part of the service system, such as attitudes, employment, inclusion in the education system, quality systems of disability service providers, housing, and so on. The topics are endless and will depend on authors’ interests. We will also seek the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and their family members through invited commentaries, and potentially commissioning a piece from one of the advocacy organisations that represents and works with people with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Issue will be published in July 2024 (Issue 1), and articles will be published online as soon as they are accepted. Article length can extend to 5500 words, and should be submitted by no later than 30 November 2023. They will be peer-reviewed.
This Special Issue will be co-edited by the Editor, Christine Bigby and Guest Editor, Alan Hough. We invite you to express your interest in preparing an article for this Special Issue of RAPIDD by emailing the editorial office ([email protected]) or contacting the Editor and Guest Editor directly.
There is scope to undertake preliminary work through review of relevant hearing transcripts, interim reports, findings, and submissions, to reduce the task post the final report.
For further guidance on suggested content, plus an example from a proposed article for the Special Issue, see RAPIDD Special Issue on The Royal Commission and People with Intellectual Disabilities-Further Guidance for Authors (available here as a supplemental file https://doi.org/10.1080/23297018.2023.2261158).