Why is Max's autism so dramatized in this show

I get that it's a show so the drama part is part of it lol, but Adam and Kristina act like Max has a deadly cancer, not autism. Idk if it's a cultural thing, if back when the show was recorded autism was more taboo, but today it's such a common thing (even though serious too) i don't understand why they are so desperate/so overly pitiful of Max. Maybe it's a character personality thing bc the other characters' treatment of Max doesn't bother me sm (Amber, Sarah, Crosby, Haddie, they all treat him like a normal person) but Adam and Kristina drive me insane. You can acknowledge someone struggles with something and has a disorder and at the same time still treat him like a person lol