Opening up.

If you’ve been keeping up with Bachelor Nation star Demi Burnett, you know that around two years ago, she got candid about her autism diagnosis on social media.

Since being diagnosed by her doctor, Demi has continued to discuss autism openly online and share educational videos about autism, pathological demand avoidance, sobriety, and ADHD.

Now during Disability Pride Month, Demi stopped by the “Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour” podcast for a candid conversation about autism and dating.

Co-hosts Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts asked Demi if she had any advice for others dating with autism or any other disability.

She said, “I get asked a lot about if I’m neurodivergent, should I be looking to date another neurodivergent person or another autistic person? I think that the bottom line for whatever you’re looking for in someone, the most important thing is someone who is willing to listen to what you say about yourself, respect it, try to understand it further, be considerate of it, and never use it against you or doubt you. It doesn’t really matter; you just need someone who is willing to understand you in your way, not their way.”

Kathy chimed in to say that’s good advice for any dating situation and Demi agreed.

Kathy also asked how a partner could show up for someone with autism to be supportive of their significant other.

Demi shared one example saying that she has a friend, Cecily, who is her right-hand person and remembers to bring a tote bag with headphones, earplugs, water, and snacks before going to an event so she has a “support bag.”

The Bachelor Nation star shared some other ways a partner could be supportive to their significant other with autism.

Demi said, “Whatever special interest your partner may have if they’re autistic, say they like cutesy little things, showing them that you notice that about them by either talking about it or getting a little gift for them. It’s really as simple as just bringing those special interests up in conversation because that gets us able to talk.”

She went on, saying, “It’s hard for us sometimes to have social conversations, especially for me when I’m not interested in anything anyone is talking about or I wasn’t there. I can desperately try to insert myself without being so weird.”

Demi explained how it’s also helpful to take sensory sensitivities seriously and how you can support someone with that.

She said, “I love to spew my special interests, so noticing those things about an autistic person means so much to us. Also, taking our sensory sensitivities seriously, like our sound sensitivities. It’s so nice to me when someone is like ‘Hey, Demi, there’s about to be a loud sound, just so you know.’ I’m always so thankful because it startles me inside.”

We love hearing from Demi and we know that her openness about her experiences continues to help so many others.

Check out her full conversation with Kathy and Susan on the “Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour” podcast below.