C is for Community: Why Connection Matters for Neurodivergent Wellbeing

Welcome back to our A–Z of Neurodivergence series.

Today, C is for Community - a word that holds real power when it comes to wellbeing, belonging, and empowerment.

💬 What does community mean in neurodivergence?

Community isn’t just about being around other people. For neurodivergent individuals, community means connection, understanding, and feeling safe to be yourself.

A supportive community can include:

• Other neurodivergent people with shared experiences

• Families and carers who learn and grow together

• Professionals who listen, adapt, and value lived experience

• Inclusive spaces where differences are respected

  
  

Community helps remind us that we are not alone.

💛 Why is community so important?

Feeling connected has a huge impact on emotional wellbeing.

For neurodivergent people, community can:

✅ Reduce loneliness and isolation

✅ Build confidence and self-acceptance

✅ Provide shared understanding without needing to explain

✅ Create opportunities for collective advocacy and change

When people feel seen, heard, and accepted, wellbeing improves.

🚧 Challenges to finding community

Many neurodivergent people face barriers to connection, including:

• Stigma or misunderstanding around neurodivergent needs

• Past experiences of exclusion or bullying

• Lack of accessible spaces, both physically and socially

• Sensory and social challenges that make typical community settings difficult

  
  

These barriers can make reaching out feel risky or overwhelming – especially if someone has felt judged or dismissed in the past.

🌱 Building and nurturing community

Community can look different for everyone, and that’s okay.

For neurodivergent individuals:

• Start small – one safe connection is enough

• Explore online communities – forums and social groups can feel more accessible

• Try peer support groups – shared lived experience can be powerful

• Honour your energy – connection should feel supportive, not draining

  
  

For families and carers:

• Connect with other families for shared learning and reassurance

• Advocate for inclusive spaces in schools and community groups

• Listen and follow the child’s lead about what feels safe and supportive

  
  

For professionals:

• Create welcoming environments with clear expectations and flexibility

• Value lived experience alongside professional knowledge

• Support co-production – work with, not for, neurodivergent people

  
  

🌍 The power of connection

Strong communities don’t just support individuals – they create change. When neurodivergent voices come together, communities become places where: ✅ Differences are respected

✅ Needs are understood

✅ Advocacy is stronger

Community is about belonging.

And everyone deserves a place where they feel they belong.

📅 Next up: D is for… (coming soon!)

👉 What does community mean to you? Where do you feel most connected?

Join the conversation using #AZofNeurodivergence and follow along as we continue our journey through the alphabet.