As we move into 2024, the editors of the International Journal of Developmental Disabilities (IJDD) would like to review the milestones the journal achieved in 2023 whilst also looking forward towards the goals for the New Year. The past year was yet another successful one for the IJDD. We are thrilled to announce that one of the editors, Prof. Arturo Langa, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In other developments, the journal was pleased to welcome Prof. Giulio Lancioni and Prof. John Rose as newly appointed Associate Editors at the beginning of 2023, both of whom had previously served as editors, thereby strengthening the journals breadth of expertise. Another highlight of 2023 was that the journal published two special issues starting at the beginning of the year with ‘Positive Behaviour Support: Moving Toward a Human Rights Based Model of Support’ edited by our colleagues Umesh Sharma, Erin Leif, Pearl Subban and Russell Fox all based in Australia. The second special issue edited by another colleague edited by Christine K. Syriopoulou‐Delli, based in Greece was entitled ‘Quality of life in people with intellectual disabilities including autism: advances in practice and research’. Both of these special issues were accompanied by scientific conferences devoted to each subject and included additional presentations and posters around the themes they showcased. Pleasingly, both the special issues and the events were well received by the intellectual disability community and were resounding successes.
The last year saw a continued increase in the impact factor of the journal and its standing in the field of development disabilities and in particular in the area of intellectual disabilities. The journal also received a record number of submitted articles from around the world focussing on all areas and themes related to improving the lives of those with intellectual disabilities as well as caregivers and support staff. Articles published in the IJDD continued to be listed in the PubMed searchable database that accesses primarily MEDLINE as well as abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics.
Turning to 2024, there will be another special issue and together with the special issue editors, we are planning a meeting around this issue. We pledge to continue making the IJDD a major international forum for all aspects of intellectual disabilities and to provide help and support to all working in the field where needed.
As usual, we the editors would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all of the authors of manuscripts submitted to and published in the IJDD and the dedication and support of the countless reviewers of these papers as well as the various members of the IJDD editorial board. We also thank our colleagues and the support staff at Taylor & Francis and the British Society of Developmental Disabilities for making publication possible. We look forward to a successful 2024 for the journal and all of those associated with it.
Brian Salmons and Arturo Langa
editor@bjdd.org