Authors Guidelines, Effective Nov. 1, 2000
Contents
What happens after I submit my article
An important note about copyright
Are photographs or illustrations considered?
Regular Columns
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Occupational Therapy NOW is published by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and provides occupational therapists with information to meet the challenges of their day-to-day practice. Articles in both the print and on-line versions encourage discussion and debate of occupational therapy practice issues. Topics include: clinical applications of recent research and theory, evidence-based practice, socio-cultural, political and economic influences on occupational therapy, as well as other information relevant to the profession at large.
Articles also appeal to anyone with an interest in occupation and its impact on health — health care practitioners, consumers, policy and decision makers and members of the general public, from around the world.
Where do I start?
CAOT Publications welcomes submissions that contain practical information
and/or encourage discussion of professional issues. For every type of
article we look for clear, easily understood and interesting copy.
There are currently seven regular columns. Your articles may fit under one of these columns or be featured separately.
Some styles of writing include: how to articles, interviews or personality profiles, informational, inspirational and member-awareness articles, It happened to me, opinion and humour articles.
Before writing your article, it is a good idea to send an outline to the managing editor for some initial feedback and ideas regarding style. You may also wish to contact the individual column editor (see contacts below) with your idea.
How long should my article be?
Our readers tell us that they are short on time so make every word count
– be precise and be concise. Articles should be no longer than 1500
words. Brief notices can be as short as 50 words but still of interest
to readers.
What happens after I submit my article?
Occupational Therapy Now is published bimonthly beginning with the January/February issue. Every effort is made to publish your article as soon as possible. Articles which are time sensitive take precedent. Obviously articles which do not require too many revisions are processed faster.
To submit an article you will need an Authors Package which contains the Authors Guidelines, a Submission Form and two copyright release forms. All the forms must be submitted along with both a hard copy of the article and an electronic copy on disk. We ask that you take special note of the section on the submission form which asks if you have had your article reviewed by a colleague. A colleague, knowledgeable about your subject matter, can offer you invaluable feedback and may prevent unnecessary revisions once your article is in process. A cover sheet should accompany your article which includes: proposed title of your article, each author's name, credentials, address, phone numbers and a brief biography.
If you are submitting your article electronically, i.e. as an e-mail attachment, please mail, courier or fax through the above forms along with a hard copy of your final article. This is the only verification we have that the attachment has come through accurately.
Once the managing editors receives your article, it will be reviewed by the applicable column editor and an occupational therapists with expertise in the subject area. Articles which do not fall under a particular column's mandate will be reviewed by two occupational therapists with expertise in the subject area. Suggestions for major revisions will be sent to the authors and a second draft will be requested. Minor, copy-editing revisions will be made and sent to you, for review, prior to publishing
An important note about copyright
Articles are submitted to Occupational Therapy NOW on the understanding
that they are not simultaneously under consideration by any other publication
and have not been previously published. Articles published in Occupational
Therapy NOW are copyrighted by CAOT and may not be published elsewhere,
in whole or part, without written permission from CAOT. By submitting
an article to Occupational Therapy NOW you are giving us permission to
publish all or part of it.
If you use, or refer to someone else’s ideas, you must acknowledge this by citing the original source in the reference list. Please refer to the the American Psychological Association Style Guide for information on correct referencing.
Authors are responsible for obtaining releases for all copyrighted materials they wish to use in their article and any associated fees.
Does publishing in Occupational Therapy NOW prevent me from later publishing in the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (CJOT)?
No, it doesn’t necessarily mean that. Writing for the Occupational Therapy NOW is more informal, often anecdotal and the articles are shorter. Submission and publication in CJOT involve a more rigorous procedure in which authors receive the full benefits of the peer review process. You may consider publishing preliminary ideas, programme descriptions, or perhaps an opinion in OT NOW, that you later develop for consideration in CJOT.
For information on submitting manuscripts to CJOT, please contact the editor, Geraldine Moore through CAOT’s National Office or at 1 (450) 458-7654; e-mail: gmoore@caot.ca.
Are photographs or illustrations considered?
Yes!! Photographs help tell the story and attract the reader’s
attention. When submitting photographs, remember the following:
- Colour photos are preferred. If taking the photos yourself try to shoot subjects with a contrasting background.
- Try to get people doing things described in the article.
- A release is necessary.
- Place photos or slides between two pieces of cardboard. Always keep
the negative or copies of the photos in case the originals are lost.
- Print your name and the subject of your article on the envelope containing
the photo(s).
- Do not write on the front or back of the photo, do not use paper clips,
do not cut individual negatives.
- Write captions and photo credits on separate paper.
- Photos will be returned if a self-addressed return envelope is provided.
- Digital photos must have been shot at no less than 300 DPI.
Questions?
Contact:
Mary Clark Green, Managing Editor
1454 129A Street
White Rock, BC V4A 3Y7
Tel. 1 (604) 536-4575 • Fax. 1 (604) 536-4570
e-mail: wpc@istar.ca
or
CAOT National Office
CTTC Building, Suite 3400
1125 Colonel By Drive,
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5R1
1 (800) 434-2268, ext. 234
www.caot.ca
REGULAR COLUMNS
Watch Your Practice
Column Editor: Mary Manojlovich
This column was developed in response to the many questions and concerns practicing occupational therapists have about the way they practise. Occupational therapists have faced many professional issues as the profession has moved from its technological roots to an autonomous, theory-based profession. While the column editor has in the past attempted to draw on general concerns raised by practicing occupational therapists, she really needs to hear from those of you with critical practice issues especially those who would like to write an article for this column.
Practice issues cover a wide area and could be related to changes in government policies and their effects on practice; regulatory issues (those directed by colleges); practice issues applicable to occupational therapists in private practice; changes in health care roles (e.g. multiskilling); supervisory challenges and so on. Articles that demonstrate how you or a group of therapists have successfully dealt with a practice situation would be particularly welcome and helpful to others.
For further information contact the managing editor or:
Mary Manojlovich
Tel. (709) 737-3868
Fax. (709) 737-3883
e-mail: hcc.manm@hccsj.nf.ca
Tech Update
Column Editor: Dianna Fong-Lee
This column serves to provide readers with information on the latest developments in assistive technology. Reviews of computer-based hardware and software as well as any technologies applicable to occupational therapy will be featured. If you have used a new software package lately or you are interested in sharing your views on how an assistive device has been successfully used with a client, please consider submitting a review.
Reviews for this column should be 500 words, although length may be negotiated depending on the complexity of the product. A description of the product, target population for the product along with a critical evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses should be discussed. Cost, manufacturer’s name and address should also be included. Reviews will be grouped collectively and presented around a theme or topic.
If you would like to submit a review or have an idea for a future topic please contact:
Dianna Fong-Lee,
Tel. (519) 886-8886
Fax. (519) 886-7292
e-mail: DIANNA_FONG-LEE@mail.cepp.org
Ways We Work
Column Editor: Lorian Kennedy
Even though organizational change and funding shortages have, and are, turning health services upside down and inside out, occupational therapists and clients can thrive in the changing workplace.
This column invites practical articles that show how occupational therapists take on new roles, overcome challenges, adapt to new situations, test new ideas, and break new ground to create environments that meet clients’ real occupational performance needs.
For further information contact the managing editor or:
Lorian Kennedy
9044-56 Street
Edmonton, AB T6B 1J2
E-Mail: lorian@telusplanet.net
Developing Expert Practice
Column Editor: Mary Egan
Occupational therapists make intervention decisions through an on-going review of evidence from multiple sources. We listen to our clients, reflect on theory from occupational therapy and other disciplines, review research findings, and seek input from colleagues. In developing expert practice we refine our abilities to critically evaluate and synthesize information from these and other sources.
Developing expert practice is a new OT Now column which combines the aims of two original columns, Evidence-based practice and Put it to practice. Therapists are invited to submit articles which describe their journeys towards expert practice. Topics may include procedures used to critically evaluate and synthesize information related to a particular intervention or novel use of resources to support such an activity. Columns will be co-edited by the regular column editor and a guest clinician editor.
Mary Egan
Occupational Therapy Program
School of Rehabilitation Sciences
Faculty of Health Science
University of Ottawa
451 Smyth Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5
(613) 562-5800 ext 8043
(613) 562-5428 (fax)
E-Mail: megan@uottawa.ca
Are you listening?
Column Editor: Karen Rebeiro
Do you consider yourself to be a client-centred therapist? Are you providing services which are initiated by and/or driven by clients? Do you consider your clients’ knowledge and experiences to be central to your practice?
If so, Occupational Therapy NOW would be interested in hearing from you. We are currently soliciting 700-1500 word articles on what it means to be client-centred in daily practice. Articles could discuss the challenges of being client-centred within a medical model paradigm, describe current practices which are believed to be client-centred, discuss/ describe the impact of the current economic/social/political climates on being client-centred or in incorporating a client-centred approach to care, or discuss the importance of a client-centred practice in the advent of current Canadian health care trends/reform/re-structuring.
These articles should be easy to read and provide an opportunity to discuss/debate an integral aspect of Canadian occupational therapy practice. This column will be posted regularly on an electronic bulletin board to facilitate the above discussions. It is the hope of this column that therapists from a wide-range of educational/clinical experiences will contribute to, and help to define, the reality of client-centred practice in Canada, and what the profession of occupational therapy needs to do to both nurture and further develop a client-centred approach to care.
For further information contact the managing editor or:
Karen Rebeiro
Tel. (705) 675-9193, ext. 8377
Fax. (705) 675-3501
e-mail: karenr@isys.ca
International Connections
Column Editor: Anne Carswell
Many Canadian occupational therapists have worked abroad setting up client services, developing educational programmes, or in previously established settings, experiencing another country’s practices and customs.
In this column we invite Canadian occupational therapists to share their international experiences. CAOT recognizes that international trade agreements are encouraging professional mobility and our members need information to prepare for global marketing of their expertise and services.
In addition to submitted articles, information regarding CAOT and WFOT international activities will also be featured in the column along with other resources to help you in your international connections.
For further information contact the managing editor or:
Anne Carswell
CAOT Delegate to WFOT
Tel. (604) 822-7414
Fax. (604) 822-7624
e-mail: acarswel@interchange.ubc.ca