Community of Practice — NdCompendium

A Community of Practice goes beyond just a group or network—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem where learning happens naturally through participation. Three essential elements make it work: a shared domain (common interests or challenges), community interaction (members building relationships and helping each other), and shared practice (developing collective resources, tools, and approaches).

In neurodivergent contexts, these communities become vital spaces where people can share experiences, develop strategies, and create knowledge that centers their lived realities rather than neurotypical expectations.

Key Aspects

Core Elements
- Shared Domain: Members care about the same things, whether it’s disability advocacy, creative expression, or survival strategies
- Active Community: Regular interactions where people exchange ideas, solve problems together, and build relationships
- Developed Practice: Creating a shared collection of resources, stories, approaches, and solutions
- Growth Through Difference: Learning thrives on diverse perspectives and experiences
- Voluntary Participation: People contribute in ways that match their abilities and interests
Structural Components
- Mutual Respect: Valuing different types of knowledge, communication styles, and contributions
- Authentic Participation: Moving beyond tokenism to meaningful involvement
- Challenging Assumptions: Creating space to question established ideas and practices
- Accessible Infrastructure: Ensuring multiple ways to participate and contribute
- Empathetic Understanding: Working to bridge communication differences and build connections

In Their Own Words

In my Community of Practice, I’m not just ‘tolerated’—I’m valued for my unique perspective. When I share a challenge I’m facing, people don’t rush to ‘fix’ me; they offer their experiences and we build solutions together. For the first time, I feel like my different way of thinking is seen as an asset rather than a problem.

Before finding my community, I felt like I was always translating my experiences into language others could understand. Here, I can speak my truth directly, and others get it. The relief is profound—like finally being able to breathe deeply after years of shallow breaths.

In Everyday Life

Autistic Research Collectives: Groups where autistic researchers guide studies about autism, ensuring research questions address what actually matters to the community
Online Discord Servers: Where neurodivergent people share coping strategies, celebrate victories, and support each other through challenges
Mutual Aid Networks: Community-based systems where neurodivergent people exchange resources, skills, and support based on need and ability
Creative Collaborations: Artists, writers, and makers coming together to develop projects that express neurodivergent experiences
Professional Development Groups: Where neurodivergent professionals share workplace navigation strategies and advocate for better accommodations

Why This Matters

Communities of Practice transform how knowledge is created and shared in neurodivergent spaces. Instead of information flowing only from experts to “patients,” knowledge emerges from collective experiences and wisdom. This shifts power dynamics, validates lived experience as expertise, and creates more authentic understanding of neurodivergent lives.

These spaces also foster belonging—something many neurodivergent people have been denied. They provide opportunities to develop identity pride and collective resilience against societal stigma and barriers.

History

1991: Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger introduced the concept while studying apprenticeship learning models
1998: Wenger expanded the concept to include three modes of belonging: imagination, engagement, and alignment
2000s: The concept gained traction in education, business, and organizational development
2010s: Neurodivergent and disability communities adapted the framework to create more participatory approaches to advocacy and research
Present: Communities of Practice increasingly recognized as essential in developing authentic, ground-up understanding of neurodivergent experiences

Participatory Research
Mutual Aid
Scenius (Collective Genius)
Knowledge Commons
Peer Support
Collaborative Learning
Counterspaces
Collective Intelligence

Note: Effective Communities of Practice require intentional design to ensure accessibility. This means considering diverse communication needs, providing multiple participation pathways, and creating structures that distribute power equitably.

References