Father Shamed For Ordering His Daughter Not To Play With Autism Child

A listener in the UK, Andy, is raging after a 10-year-old girl with autism and ADHD told his 8-year-old that Santa, the tooth fairy and “all that” aren’t real — leaving his daughter in bits and the magic ruined. When Andy confronted the girl’s parents, he says they got defensive, refused to address it, and used the diagnosis as an excuse. Andy’s reaction (and language) sparks a huge debate. Callers clash: should parents be teaching autistic kids what’s appropriate, or should everyone else show more understanding? And is it ever ok to tell your child to stay away?