Agran new special ed journal editor

Martin Agran

Martin Agran, professor and head of the University of Wyoming Department of Special Education, recently was appointed editor-in-chief of the scholarly journal, Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities.

   His three-year term begins with the fall 2008 issue.  TASH (formerly the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps) publishes the quarterly journal.

   Agran's affiliation with TASH spans more than a quarter century. As a graduate student, he says, he dreamed of publication in its journal. That dream has been fulfilled many times over the years, with multiple article credits to his name. Assuming the editorship is a natural extension of his service to TASH and to the special education discipline, he says.

   Bringing this highly respected, refereed journal to UW is expected to increase the visibility of both the department and the UW College of Education.  It provides "a presence that we just didn't have before," Agran says, increasing the College of Education's visibility with potential students and faculty.

   Moving the journal to UW also brings an additional position, managing editor, which will be filled by either a graduate student or publications professional. Agran will manage a team that also includes six appointed associate editors and 65 editorial board members.

   Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities addresses a broad range of educational, service, and quality-of-life issues impacting individuals with severe disabilities of all ages. Articles cover three major categories experimental studies (quantitative research), qualitative/interpretive studies, and position papers.

   The journal is known for its rigorous article selection process only 30 percent of submissions see print, however, Agran takes pride in the quality and usefulness of feedback provided to everyone, including those rejected for publication. Agran says that, as an organization, TASH has been very progressive in advancing social justice, inclusion, and equity initiatives, and Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities has had an integral role in validating practices that support these initiatives. This role, he says, he wishes to continue.

Posted on Friday, April 18, 2008