Guest Editors:

Christopher Brum, Ph.D., Associate Professor, San Diego State University

Susan M. Bruce, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Boston College

Deadline for Submissions:

February 2026

Projected Publication Date:

November-December 2026 issue

Individuals with visual impairments or deafblindness who have complex support needs represent a heterogenous population of learners who have additional disabilities including those with developmental delays, physical disabilities, health issues, and behavioral characteristics (Bruce et al., 2024) that can pose challenges to their development of communication, language, and literacy. This special issue seeks to highlight current research on communication, language, and literacy that focuses on individuals of all ages with vision loss or deafblindness who have complex support needs. JVIB invites innovative research, descriptions of effective practices, conceptual papers, and short reports that discuss advancements and innovations that look to improve outcomes for this population. Research that employs various methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, case study, and mixed methods) and international contributions are welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Instructional approaches and strategies to support communication and language development for presymbolic and symbolic communicators.
  • Novel approaches to improve literacy outcomes that support early and emergent literacy, reading, and interactions with text.
  • Applying tactile approaches, such as protactile, haptics, objects, textures, and tactile graphics, to support communication, language, and literacy development.
  • Creating learning environments that support positive interactions.
  • Communication interventions to decrease challenging behaviors and improve quality-of-life outcomes.
  • Preparing communication partners (professionals and family members) to engage in reciprocal interactions.
  • Approaches, strategies, and instruments for assessment of communication, language, or literacy development.
  • Applications of assistive technologies, including adaptive equipment and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Papers may be submitted to the journal's Editor in Chief Robert Wall Emerson, Ph.D., Western Michigan University, at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jvib. Submitted manuscripts will undergo standard peer review. Guidelines for contributors are available from the American Foundation for the Blind: online, https://www.afb.org/news-publications/publications/jvib/authors; e-mail, jvib@afb.org.