Call for Papers
For all AJOT articles, the goal is to provide high-quality research for use by occupational therapy practitioners and researchers as well as consumers, insurers, and other health care professionals. Articles that are relevant to audiences beyond occupational therapy will be given greater consideration.
From time to time, AJOT publishes special issues on topics of interest. Authors considering a submission for a special issue should first contact the issue guest editor. All manuscripts should be submitted through the AJOT manuscript processing system, and authors should specify in their cover letter that the manuscript is intended for publication in the desired special issue. Submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed and must conform to the criteria specified in the current “Guidelines for Contributors to AJOT” (available on the AJOT and manuscript submission websites).
General questions about submission should be directed to ajotproduction@aota.org.
Current calls for papers are listed below.
Recovery of Function After Acquired Neurological Injury
Guest Editors: Amit Sethi, PhD, OTR/L; Jaclyn Stephens, PhD, OTR; Michelle Woodbury, PhD, OTR/L; Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L
Occupational therapy practitioners work with individuals who have had a neurological injury in acute, outpatient, home, and community-based settings. Recovery from injury involves understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to both injury and recovery, accurate measurement of salient outcomes, and providing evidence-based interventions in collaboration with the client. This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) will highlight the role occupational therapy can play in promoting functional recovery after acquired neurological injury. This issue especially seeks findings from empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), systematic reviews, or meta-analyses that can be used to inform occupational therapy practice or policy-making decisions. Papers on the following topics are prioritized for this issue:
- Occupation-based intervention across the lifespan
- Evaluation and measurement of neurological (e.g., neuroplasticity) and functional outcomes
- Occupational therapy delivery models (e.g., telehealth, community-based)
- Impact of policies and services delivery on functional outcomes
- Papers presenting or testing concepts of motor control and motor learning
- Understanding the experiences of individuals recovering from acquired neurological injury
Authors considering a submission should first contact the associate editors to discuss their interest: Amit Sethi (asethi@pitt.edu); Jaclyn Stephens (jaclyn.stephens@colostate.edu); Michelle Woodbury (woodbuml@musc.edu); Sook-Lei Liew (sliew@chan.usc.edu). Please include a tentative title and short description of your proposed paper in the email along with any implications the paper has to occupational therapy research or practice.
Submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed and must conform to the criteria specified in the current “Guidelines for Contributors to AJOT,” which is available on the AJOT website. Papers will be reviewed and accepted or rejected based on the merit of the paper and the fit with the special issue focus. We encourage early submission. Papers will be evaluated in the order they are received.
Download a flyer to share with colleagues.
Deadline for Submission: April 1, 2023.
The issue is tentatively scheduled for March/April 2024.
Play in Occupational Therapy
Guest Editors: Heather Kuhaneck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Anita Bundy, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA; Sarah Fabrizi, PhD, OTR/L; Helen Lynch, PhD, MSc, OT Dip Montessori; Alice Moore, L. Diane Parham, Rosa Román-Oyola, PhD, MEd, OTR/L; Karen Stagnitti, PhD, BOccThy, GCHE; Amiya Waldman-Levi, PhD, OTR/L
Play is the primary occupation of children and can be used both as an intervention and an outcome of occupational therapy practice. The development of play can be disrupted by childhood disability, injury, illness, or trauma, as well as systematic and structural barriers that limit opportunities for play. As such, assessment of play is complex and multifaceted, including elements of the child, their caregivers, and the environments in which children spend their time.
This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) will highlight the role occupational therapy practitioners can play in promoting play and understanding the complex dynamics that support play across various settings. This issue especially seeks findings from empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), systematic reviews, or meta-analyses that can be used to inform occupational therapy practice, education, research, or policymaking decisions. Papers on the following topics are prioritized for this issue:
- Play as an occupation
- Children’s perspectives of play
- Identifying the benefits of play across the life span
- Impact of policies/service delivery on play-based outcomes
- Play strengths and deficits in specific populations
- Novel research methods for studying play
- Efficacy of play-based interventions
- Cultural differences in play
- Evaluation/measurement of playfulness and play skills
- Methods of teaching OT students about play and play assessment
- Examining types of play (risky play, loose-parts play, parent–child play), play objects, and play environments
- Occupational therapy delivery models and inclusion of play (e.g., telehealth, community-based)
Authors considering a submission should first contact Heather Kuhaneck (hmillerot@yahoo.com) to discuss their interest. Please include a tentative title and short description of your proposed paper in the email along with any implications the paper has for occupational therapy research or practice.
Submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed and must conform to the criteria specified in the current “Guidelines for Contributors to AJOT,” which is available on the AJOT website. Papers will be reviewed and accepted or rejected based on the merit of the paper and the fit with the special issue focus. We encourage early submission. Papers will be evaluated in the order they are received.
Download a flyer to share with colleagues.
Deadline for Submission: May 1, 2023.
The issue is tentatively scheduled for May/June 2024.