Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is ReDeafining Academic Collaboration (RAC)?

It is an electronic journal that was founded at Lamar University in 2016 by two doctoral students at the time: Dr. Ju-Lee Wolsey and Jodie Ackerman, and their Department Chair, Dr. M. Diane Clark (DC). Eventually, partnerships and collaboration were developed with other universities such as NTID, Western Oregon University, Gallaudet University, and Ball State University. 

After a period of inactivity, the founding members agreed to transition their role to allow three Lamar University doctoral candidates to assume editorial responsibility in order to facilitate the publication process for a wider audience. Graduate assistants from Ball State University are also a large part in this process!  You can read more about our founding members under our “About Us” page and thank them for helping set up this important resource!

Why should I bother submitting to RAC?

Our Deaf education field is a small and niche field, often the frontline stories or anecdotal teaching strategies and successes are not shared outside of a local level. Think of how often you may have wished you could see how other people in your shoes may approach a particular situation or topic.

OK, why should I publish in RAC instead of “a regular journal”?

Long answer short, RAC IS a journal, it’s just not a traditional journal. For one, it’s online. For two, there is a much shorter turnaround between article submission and publication. Last and not least, the Editors are here to actively support authors throughout the publication process. We want to dismantle barriers rather than present barriers.

We recognize that publishing in a journal is often a lengthy and challenging process. Some of us have articles that have been under review for over a year and we have no idea when they will actually be published! In a rapidly changing field, our goal is to get information out in a matter of weeks rather than many months or years. We believe that by doing so, we can collectively spur additional research, identify emerging trends, and grow the existing body of research to greater benefit the Deaf education system and its stakeholders.

Plus, we recognize that the research and publication process is often challenging and daunting, trust us, we have been through it ourselves! We also lament how that can serve as a barrier for many professionals with a wealth of wisdom and knowledge that is not shared. It is our goal for RAC to serve as a stepping stone towards eventual publication if an author wishes. 

Some people are content to only publish in RAC. Some RAC articles may be so well received that people will want to work together to continue to develop it to publish in a journal. You may see someone publish something and realize that you have information, skills, and/or knowledge that you can contribute to that project. Maybe you will be invited to join their efforts. No matter the publication route you take, it is still an impressive addition to your resume and psst--it looks pretty good from a professional development standpoint and on your evaluations!

But I already put all of my stuff on social media? What’s wrong with that?

Nothing! It is great that you are sharing your information with a wider audience! You do not need to stop posting on social media! Sometimes, our research ideas and projects develop from a social media post. In fact, that is how the RAC got resurrected, a social media post made by one of the Editors which had a few people interested and the rest is history! There are three reasons why one may want to consider publishing in RAC as well:

1. It looks better on your CV/resume to show a publication in an “official” source rather than self-publishing on social media
2. Your content will be reviewed by editors and the back and forth process will result in a stronger article that “reads well”
3. Information will be easily discoverable on RAC as compared to social media where it can easily get lost among the other postings that are made, account privacy settings, and one’s audience.

Is RAC peer-reviewed?

Peer review is a rigorous process that is a hallmark of the traditional publication process. It can also be why the process is so daunting and lengthy! Technically, yes, your work will be reviewed by the Editors. However, it will not undergo an anonymous review. We want to dismantle barriers and build collaboration between researchers in the field. Thus, this publication format is known as non-peer reviewed.

I’m not a researcher or writer. I don’t have the credentials. How can I submit something?

Guess what - ANYONE can do research, write, or publish. We promise! You might find that it’s actually fun, you will meet a lot of interesting people, and you will contribute useful knowledge to the research field that will help other people.

Who can submit to RAC?

Anyone affiliated with the Deaf education system somehow! Whether it is EHDI, K-12, college, Professionals, faculty, staff, teachers, administrators, parents, support service providers, families, students, and deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind adults! 

• Are you a bus driver that primarily transports deaf students and you found a creative way to keep them from distracting you while driving - we want to hear about it! 
• Are you a Latinx parent that wants to share your experience with professionals who work with Latinx families? Fire away!
• Are you a Principal who has a stellar professional development curriculum? Share away!
• Math teacher with a great way of teaching polynomials?
• English teacher who adapted Romeo and Juliet to teach to Deafdisabled students?
• Itinerant teacher with the best organized car trunk?

As you can see, the sky's the limit! Send us your knowledge!

What if I just have an idea but no content?

All great ideas start somewhere. Often it just starts with a spark. Content is developed over time. Send us an abstract in English or ASL explaining your idea, You never know - maybe someone else sent a similar abstract and we can pair you together. Or we can refer you to someone already working on a project. Or an article that has already been published. Or we can give you some resources to continue exploring and developing your idea. You never know unless you reach out and try!

Can students submit content?

Yes! As consumers of Deaf education - students have a valuable insight that everyone would benefit from! You can even make this a class project to give your students a “taste” of developing and publishing their writing. The only thing is that it must be related to Deaf education somehow. If you are a teacher thinking about doing this in class, we can support you!

How often does RAC publish?

RAC will publish articles as we receive them in a blog style format. Occasionally, we will issue calls for papers revolving around a specific topic. Each quarter, articles will be curated and compiled in a digital newsletter. The first issue will be published June 1, 2020. 

What language(s)/format(s) do you use for publications?

RAC supports a bilingual approach to Deaf education. As such, both ASL videos and written English articles will be accepted. All ASL videos must be captioned. Please refer to our submission guidelines for specific instructions pertaining to each format. 

How can I submit an English article?

If you have an idea for an article, please reach out to the editors with a 250-350 word abstract for your submission in PDF format at redeafining@gmail.com - you will hear back within 5 business days. If we receive similar submissions from multiple parties, we may ask for permission to connect you with one another to develop the article together.

How can I submit an ASL video?

You can submit a video or written abstract. An ASL abstract does not have to be a professional or a formal production. As long as the video is clear, well-lit, and you are understandable - no need to worry about appropriate lighting, backdrops, dressing up, and so forth. Please email the editors at redeafining@gmail.com with a link to your video listed on YouTube under ‘unlisted’. It must be unlisted or public or we will be unable to see them!

What if English is not my first language?

We recognize that this may be common in our field and we do not want this to be a barrier in the writing and publication process. We will work with you in your article development process. This does not mean we will write the article for you or do intensive editing. Rather, this means that we will work with you in a collaborative and a back and forth process. Also, if you are more comfortable using ASL, that is an option for publication as well! Additionally you can ask a trusted colleague, family member, friend, or one of the many wonderful editing services out there to help out with the writing and editing process.

In addition, if you prefer to communicate with us via video chat instead of email, that is possible too. Just email us to set up a time to chat.

Can hearing people submit in ASL too?

Of course! We want people to submit in the language that they feel most comfortable using. We will review and provide feedback on all submissions. However, due to the nature of videos, we cannot directly edit ASL submissions. But, rest assured we will work with you in collaboratively developing a stellar video product.

How do I cite a RAC article?

Cite it as you would a website with the author name, year published, and link to the article. Refer to your publication guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) for further instructions. 

What/where is Lamar University?

Lamar University is a public university in southeast Texas approximately 70 miles east of Houston just west of the Louisiana border. It has had a Deaf Studies and Deaf Education program for more than three decades which grants undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees. It also has an undergraduate interpreter training program and a Deaf advocacy undergraduate program. It is currently the only institution in the United States that is regularly admitting and graduating doctoral students in the fields of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education. Applications accepted on a rolling basis - become a Cardinal today! 

I want to become an editor/reviewer.

Are you sure? Just kidding! We welcome collaboration and could always use an extra set of hands on deck. Shoot us an email introducing yourself with your resume/CV and we will talk more!

Do you need help with proofreading, captioning, and developing transcripts?

Always! Shoot us an email with your CV/resume attached and we will chat more! Thank you for offering, it takes a village!