In handling complaints and appeals, the editorial board of the journal follows the relevant COPE guidelines.

Review procedure

In the event of complaints and/or appeals against editorial decisions, the following procedure shall apply.

Any complaint or appeal shall first be considered by the Editor-in-Chief responsible for the journal and/or the handling editor who was directly involved in the editorial process.

The Editor-in-Chief may involve two members of the editorial board who have relevant experience serving on the editorial boards of other journals and whose experience and expertise may assist in resolving the dispute, properly clarifying the circumstances described in the submission, and appropriately applying the journal’s editorial policy and publication ethics rules.

When considering complaints and/or appeals, the following principles should be observed:

• mutual respect for all participants in the editorial process and a presumption of their proper and good-faith conduct unless proven otherwise;

• granting all interested parties the right to present their arguments in support of or in opposition to the claims made;

• proper notification of participants in the editorial process regarding the receipt and consideration of such a submission where their rights and/or interests may be affected;

• directing the dispute-resolution process toward finding compromise and mutual understanding.

Complaint concerning the scientific quality of an article, for example, an appeal against rejection

In an appeal, the author must provide a detailed justification, including point-by-point responses to the reviewers’ comments.

The Editor-in-Chief shall consider the arguments of the authors and reviewers and shall make one of the following decisions:

1. to reject the applicant’s claims as unfounded;

2. to uphold the claims set out in the appeal.

The complainant shall be informed of the decision with an explanation. Decisions on appeals are final, and new submissions take priority over appeals.

Complaint concerning the article review procedure (review time, etc.)

The Editor-in-Chief, together with the handling editor of the journal Education of Persons with Special Needs: Ways of Development, shall consider the matter. The complainant will be provided with an appropriate response. The results of the review will be taken into account by the relevant stakeholders in order to improve the editorial and publishing processes.

Complaint concerning publication ethics, for example, the conduct of an author or reviewer

The Editor-in-Chief or the handling editor must follow the recommendations of COPE, EASE, and publication ethics standards.

A final decision rejecting a complaint or appeal may not be revoked or challenged. The editorial board does not correspond with authors of a rejected manuscript after such a decision.