While all children are “exceptional”, Exceptional Family caters to parents and caregivers of children ages 0-18 who have physical and/or cognitive disabilities, not emotional/psychiatric ones. As such, OCD, psychosis and other such mental-health challenges are not included in our mandate. Similarly, asthma, allergies or illnesses such as cancer also fall outside of our mandate.

Unless you are contributing as a scientist or clinician, avoid historic and scientific-based articles. If you do incorporate scientific or medical references, please explain them in the form of a footnote.

Reference all sources. Websites and publications should be cited in footnotes and the contact information (e-mail and phone number) of all interviewees must accompany each article.

Maximum word count is 800 words. All articles should be sent ready for press, with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. We* reserve the right to reject, edit and make significant changes to any articles that do not meet our editorial criteria, standards and mandate, without explanation.

Please note that submissions do not guarantee that your work will be published. Articles approved for publication may only be published in later issues and not necessarily the ones that they were intended for. Articles approved for publication in our print edition may also be posted on our website.

We do not accept previously published work. As a non-profit organization, Miriam Foundation does not compensate writers for Exceptional Family.

References to people with disabilities should incorporate “person-first” terminology. Ex: “People who are blind”, not “The blind”, “Person with autism” not “autistic” and “Person who has a disability” instead of “disabled” or “handicapped”. For a complete list please click here.