Introduction

It's hardly surprising that a book starting with the exhortation ‘only connect’ should pay so much attention to communication. Here we pick up the discussion on the part played by new technology. It's also difficult to see how we can challenge the divisive pressures of neoliberalism without such an emphasis on communication. In this chapter, the focus shifts determinedly to developing more inclusive and equal communication prompted by the sharp realisation of how excluding and unequal communication so often is routinely in our world.

We regularly communicate in ways that leave out large swathes of the population, taking for granted that many mainstream communication approaches, old and new, are riddled with barriers. This can be for historical, social, cultural and political reasons. It's not restricted to particular ‘out-groups’ – although these have often been the most helpful in raising such issues. As a mental health service user/survivor, at work, I have been able to secure ‘reasonable adjustments’ under equality legislation to overcome some of these communication access difficulties. Yet I know that similar problems apply much more widely to people without such recourse.

The disabled people's and Deaf people's movements have challenged this and made progress. However, it remains a problem for many, excluding them in various ways. We must work to remedy this if we’re really committed to a renewed politics which are truly democratic. Struggles for personal politics help us understand the direction that formal politics need to be moving in.

All communication is ultimately personal – if it's to work. That's to say if it's to convey a message accessible to recipients.