American Annals of the Deaf: Purposes and Scope of Content

American Annals of the Deaf Purposes and Scope of Content Joint Annals Administrative Committee April, 1984 BACKGROUND The American Annals of the Deaf was founded in 1847. It has the distinction of being both the oldest continuing educational journal for the deaf in the world, and the oldest continuing educational journal of any kind in the U.S. It is an invaluable source of information on current and historical developments in education of the deaf, particularly in North America. Throughout all these years, the Annals has focused primarily on the education of deaf students and on information for professionals associated with the educational development of these students. This reflects the purposes of its two parent organizations, the Conference of Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf (CEASD) and the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf (CAID). At the same time the Annals historically has extended its range of topics beyond education per se, incorporating the broad interests of educators in the general welfare of deaf children and adults, and representing the diverse professional readership of the Annals. The Annals historically has been managed in a way as to maintain balance in reporting content based on direct professional experience and on scientific inquiry. Its editors have recognized the value of both sources for new insights and for significant developments in services to deaf children and adults. The past two decades have produced a major increase in research activity centering on deaf children and adults, leading to a parallel inMembers of the joint Annals Administrative Committee include: Ross Stuckless, Chairman, National Tech. Inst, fit Deaf; Ken Brasel, New Mexico Sch. fit Deaf; Helen Craig, Western Pennsylvania Sch. fit Deaf; Pat Dorrance, California Sch. fit Deaf; Ralph Hoag, Arizona; Barbara MacNeil, San Diego Unified Sch. Dist; William McClure, Florida; King Jordan, Callaudet College. crease in the number of research-oriented manuscripts which are submitted to the Annals for review. Unfortunately, practitioner-oriented manuscripts of journal standards have not kept pace, giving rise to a concern that the Annals may not have the appeal for teachers that it should have. As we look to the future of the Annals, the editors and the Joint Annals Administrative Committee see value in reviewing and documenting (a) the purpose, and (b) the focus or breadth of content of the journal to which we have been entrusted by CEASD and CAID. PURPOSE Summary Statement "A professional journal dedicated to quality in education and in related services for hearingimpaired children and adults." The above statement has replaced the following statement which previously appeared on the Annals cover, "A national professional journal for teachers, specialists, and school administrators working for education of the deaf." It is noted that the terrr\ "hearing-impaired" is used in the revised statement. This is not to suggest a departure from the CEASD definition of "deaf", but merely to recognize "hearing-impaired " as a more generic term for use in the statement appearing on the Annals cover. Basic Purposes Following are the basic purposes of the Annals: 1. To facilitate effective services for deaf persons in education and related areas. This broad purpose is consistent with the purpose of the two parent organizations, CEASD and CAID; and the Annals is a A.A.D. I April 1985 Annals Scope and Content 57 publication mechanism to advance this purpose. 2.To contribute to the professional development of those who serve deaf persons. The Annals content is aimed at informing current and future professionals of activities , concepts, and issues relevant to education and to other services for deaf persons . 3.To share scientifically-derived information concerning deafness, potentially valuable to readers. While the Annals is not exclusively a scientific journal, it has a responsibility to inform its readership of developments and trends in research which have the potential for future application with deaf persons, especially as they relate to services. 4.To disseminate timely descriptive information to groups with interest in specialized aspects of deafness. This purpose is particularly evident in the annual publication of the reference issue of the Annals. 5.To provide an historical chronicle in the area of deafness and services to deaf persons , especially in the field of education. The Annals is a major...