How to succeed as a neurodivergent TEFL teacher

Here at The TEFL Org, we believe that teaching is for everyone. If you have fluency in English and a passion for education, taking a TEFL course can open up a world of possibilities for all kinds of people. However, there are still so many potentially outstanding teachers out there who feel held back by neurodiversity and never get a certificate. It’s time to change that.

With advances in technology and a better understanding of symptoms, millions of people who thought they were ‘lazy’ or ‘broken’ are getting life-changing diagnoses. In the UK, the number of people diagnosed with Autism, ADHD and other neurological conditions has risen sharply , for many reasons - mainly, how we understand these conditions, and the culture around them, has begun to change.

In the TEFL world, some experienced teachers are finding out they’re neurodiverse, while others are trying to make their first career moves, having been diagnosed in their youth. Many teachers are in limbo, waiting for assessments and hoping to learn how to manage. Whatever stage you’re at, here’s what you need to know about succeeding as a neurodiverse TEFL teacher.

Teaching with Autism

Autism (and Autism Spectrum Disorder, formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome) is a complex condition with a range of symptoms , including extreme social anxiety, reduced ability to understand feelings, inability to express emotions, resistance to change and difficulty with idioms and non-literal English.

As a teacher , Autism can affect how you adjust to timetables, plan changes, disruptions, preparation, meetings, and generally navigate the world. Teachers with autism are at a high risk of burnout , as they are constantly having to ‘ mask ’ their symptoms in the classroom.

There’s no easy treatment for Autism, but you and your employer can do plenty of things to make life easier. Your manager should provide you with teaching materials, consistent planning and feedback, the use of plain language, and mental health resources , such as occupational health or therapy plans.

Autism resources for TEFL teachers

Strategies and Interventions (National Autistic Society)

Teaching with Autistic Burnout (Reframing Autism)

More Autistic Teachers, Please! (SEN Magazine)

Autistic Teacher Blog

Resources and Guides (Autism Speaks)

Autism Services Directory (Autism.org)

Tip : If you’re teaching English abroad , the UN has a handy guide on disability rights and laws worldwide. Before teaching in a different country, make sure you’re protected by law and that you have access to proper treatment and medication. 

Teaching with ADHD

Often, ADHD is associated with hyperactivity in children, but it’s a far more wide-reaching and debilitating condition than you might think.

Symptoms of ADHD include:

• Difficulty with timekeeping
• Being forgetful or easily distracted
• Being unable to cope with management tools or tasks
• Losing things
• Heightened energy/restlessness
• Poor impulse control 
• Fatigue

ADHD can cause executive dysfunction . This is when your cognitive abilities are impaired, and you can’t concentrate or perform tasks. As a teacher, that can mean extreme difficulty proofreading work or noticing mistakes, inability to speak coherently in front of a class, or blanking when responding to a problem. ADHD can cause severe self-esteem issues and is a risk factor for depression and suicidal thoughts.

Yet, it shouldn’t stop you from teaching. You can function with ADHD, but you’ll need protections in place - for many, medication is the first building block for coping with ADHD, while others prefer talking therapies or CBT. Speak to your employer and determine which reasonable adjustments can be made, including short breaks, extra help with administrative tasks, accounting for burnout and executive dysfunction, and providing consistent, helpful feedback.

Tip : Some advice for teachers and employers - people with ADHD often feel useless and frustrated by their inability to complete tasks that seem effortless to others. Avoid criticism and punishment, as this can have a detrimental effect on mental health and make symptoms worse. 

ADHD resources for TEFL teachers

If you think you might have ADHD, consult your doctor, who may provide you with a Screening Survey .

I’m a Teacher with ADHD (We Are Teachers)

Training courses, resources and articles (ADHD Foundation)

Meetings and guides (ADHD Federation)

An Employer’s Guide to ADHD (PDF) (ADHD Foundation)

25 Great Mobile Apps for ADHD Minds (ADDitude)

Teaching with Dyslexia

The stereotype about Dyslexia is that it means you can’t spell. Again, there’s far more to it than that, and it’s much more widespread than you might think - 1 in 10 people in the UK are diagnosed as dyslexic , although the real number is probably much higher.

According to the NHS , Dyslexia symptoms can include difficulty planning and writing letters, reports or other written work, poor spelling, inability to meet deadlines, avoidance of reading/written tasks and problems with note-taking. Despite these symptoms, you can still thrive as a TEFL teacher, and many do.

Your employer needs to know about your Dyslexia, whether you’re diagnosed or waiting for an assessment, so they can help you make adjustments. This can include access to dictionaries/spelling tools, having an English Language Assistant (ELA) , focusing on listening and speaking exercises and more time for lesson planning.

Dyslexia resources for TEFL teachers

Strategies for dyslexic trainee teachers (PATOSS)

Teachers talking about dyslexia (Reddit)

Support, CPD courses (Dyslexia Action)

Dyslexia Test for Adults (ADDitude)

Teaching with Dyspraxia

You’ll notice a consistent theme in neurodiversity - often, a disability is reduced to one particular symptom, and in Dyspraxia’s case, it’s clumsiness . While movement and coordination problems are a big part of dyspraxia, there’s much more to it.

People with Dyspraxia face a range of problems , from struggling to use their motor skills for small tasks to difficulty writing, typing, or grasping objects. There are also cognitive issues, including problems with emotional regulation, time management, personal skills, organisation, memory, learning and balance. 

That doesn’t mean there aren’t countless Dyspraxic TEFL teachers who are highly successful. They just need the right tools , such as assistive technology, extra time to sort out administrative tasks, flexible working patterns and, potentially, support from a teaching assistant. There’s no cure for Dyspraxia, but there are coping strategies and adjustments that can be made, along with person-centred therapy or CBT.

Dyspraxia resources for TEFL teachers

General advice and info (Dyspraxia Foundation)

Assistive technology guides: mind mapping, text-to-speech readers and more (Dyspraxia Ireland)

Teachers with Dyspraxia (Reddit)

Teaching with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Another mischaracterised neurological disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) isn’t just about being neat. Instead, OCD involves obsessions - unwanted, scary thoughts, images and urges that pop into your head, causing negative feelings, and compulsions/repetitive behaviours.

For example, fears about health, control, the need for physical sensations and other factors can lead to obsessive hand washing , which is a relatively common OCD trait. These kinds of symptoms can be incredibly disruptive, and for TEFL teachers, it can be particularly hard to address compulsions while leading a class.

Still, though, TEFL teachers can manage their symptoms in different ways, from medication (usually anti-depressant SSRI drugs) and either one-to-one therapy or group work. Teaching English online is a good choice for TEFL teachers with OCD, as it allows you to work flexible hours, usually from home, and you can have some control over your workload. If you’re working in a school, your manager should use strategies including breaks and reduced teaching hours. TEFL teachers with OCD should also have access to coping strategies , which employers should understand.

OCD resources for TEFL teachers

Teachers with OCD (Kindness Matters)

OCD teaching discussion (Reddit)

Self-care for OCD (Mind)

Treatment for OCD (NHS)

The TEFL world needs Neurodiverse teachers!

Should neurodiversity stop you from TEFL teaching? No - if anything, more neurodivergent teachers are needed, so that more students feel seen and heard, the stigma around neurodivergence fades away, and more employers realise countless, cost-free adjustments can help teachers thrive. 

Neurological disorders aren’t going anywhere, but today, we’re more equipped to understand disabilities like Autism, OCD and ADHD than ever before. The TEFL community is an accepting, supportive space, where people with different backgrounds, medical histories and ideas can succeed.

If you’re eager to deepen your understanding of neurodiversity and TEFL, our Teaching Neurodiverse Students certificate is perfect. You’ll learn about different disabilities and how to help neurodiverse students, and by the end, you’ll know how to set up a classroom for all learners.

Again, TEFL is for everyone. If you’re neurodivergent and reading this, thinking about becoming a TEFL teacher, rest assured that you’re not alone. There’s so much support out there, and you’re needed. Jump aboard.

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