Video transcript“I’m neurodivergent - can I do CELTA?”
If you’ve ever asked yourself that question- or typed it nervously into Google at 2am- this video is for you.
Short answer?
Yes, you absolutely can.
But there are a few really important things you need to know before you apply.
A key thing to understand about CELTA
First of all, CELTA centres are
required to be inclusive.
That means they’re not allowed to exclude candidates because they’re neurodivergent. Quite the opposite, in fact. They have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments where possible.
But… and this is a big but…
They can only support you
if they know.
Which brings me to the most important point in this whole video.
You must declare at interview.
If you are neurodivergent, you really do need to
disclose this at the interview stage.
Not because it counts against you- it doesn’t- but because it allows the tutors to understand how best to support you
from day one.
CELTA is intense.
Fast-paced.
There’s a lot of feedback, a lot of input and a lot of deadlines.
If tutors don’t know what you’re working with, they can’t adapt how they support you - and that’s when things become unnecessarily stressful.
Declaring is not a weakness.
It’s actually a sign that you understand how you learn best.
Do you need a formal diagnosis?
This is a really common question.
No, you don’t always need a formal diagnosis.
What matters more is that you can clearly explain:
- what you find challenging
- what helps you work at your best
- and what kinds of support have worked for you in the past.
A label on its own doesn’t help tutors very much. But practical insight does.
“How will the tutors help me?”
Another important thing to be realistic about.
CELTA tutors are not therapists and they can’t remove the core demands of the course. The standards are the standards.
But they can:
- be explicit about expectations
- help you plan and prioritise
- adapt how feedback is delivered
- suggest strategies for managing workload and deadlines
- flag issues early, before they snowball
And that only works if there’s an open conversation from the start.
Remember, you’ve already done hard things
Something I often remind candidates of:
Most people doing CELTA already have a degree or equivalent which means you’ve successfully navigated formal education before.
CELTA is demanding, yes, but it’s not your first encounter with structured learning, deadlines, feedback and pressure.
A good question to ask yourself and one tutors may ask you is:
“How have you dealt with challenges in education before?”
If you can answer that honestly and reflectively, you’re already in a strong position.
Would part-time be a better option?
For some neurodivergent candidates,
the part-time CELTA is a much better fit.
It spreads the cognitive load, gives you more processing time and can make the whole experience far more manageable… without lowering standards.
Full-time isn’t a badge of honour.
Choosing the format that allows you to succeed is.
Closing / reassurance
So, if you’re neurodivergent and thinking about CELTA:
✔ Yes, you can do it
✔ Centres are required to be inclusive
✔ Declare early and openly
✔ Be specific about how you learn best
✔ And choose the course format that sets you up for success
CELTA doesn’t require you to be “a certain type of person”. It requires you to be reflective, resilient and willing to learn.
And those qualities come in many different brains.
