Communication for all and the Sustainable Development Goals

Purpose: Communication is central to the accomplishment of each of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is a fundamental human right.

Method: This special issue of the International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (IJSLP, vol. 25, no. 1) is dedicated to communication, swallowing and the SDGs; particularly focussing on people with communication and/or swallowing disability and those who support them.

Result: The papers in the special issue of IJSLP demonstrate that successful communication is necessary for realisation of all 17 SDGs at both a global and an individual level and advance the international call for SDG 18: Communication for All. The 36 papers address all 17 goals, focussing on poverty, hunger, health, education, work, innovation, climate, cities, land, oceans, justice, and partnerships. Authors worked and undertook their research in Australia, Austria, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, South Africa, Uganda, UK, USA, Vietnam. Conclusion: Communication for all is essential for the achievement of the SDGs, “peace and prosperity for people and the planet” (United Nations, 2015a). Achievement of the SDGs is the role of all; including communication specialists, people with communication/swallowing disability, their families and communities.