Jacqueline Laurita shared a gut-wrenching story on Sunday, April 8. The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum claims her 8-year-old son Nicholas, who was diagnosed with autism in 2009, was asked to leave to Franklin Lakes Public Library because he was making “non-contextual vocals and tapping” on DVD cases.
“He had a meltdown as I struggled to get him to leave,” the 47-year-old mom captioned her Sunday video post. “Not one person offered or tried to help or even opened the door for us. They just watched me struggle to get him out . . . as asked.”
In the clip, Nicholas pulls movies off the shelf at the Franklin Lakes Library and can be heard making noises.
“My heart hurt so bad for the both of us,” she continued. “The day before he had had such a great experience there. I wish everyone understood #Autism.” The former Bravo personality added: “Time to go back and educate them!”
Her followers were just as upset. “This is disgusting . . . thank you for sharing your story and spreading awareness,” wrote one person. Another echoed the sentiment: “What uneducated people.”
Jacqueline and her husband, Chris Laurita, are also parents of CJ, 15. She shares daughter Ashlee, 26, with ex Matt Holmes.
In February, Jacqueline revealed that when Nicholas was 18 months old he began regressing in developmental milestones. “He stopped talking and singing, there was no eye contact, he wouldn’t answer to his name and he would spin in circles,” she told NorthJersey.com. “He couldn’t follow a one-step command.”
The couple contacted Generation Rescue, where Jenny McCarthy is president, for early intervention and Jacqueline believes that made all the difference.
“Every time I think progress is slow, I’ll look back to where he’s started and see how far he’s come,” Jacqueline told the website. “He’s saying a lot of words, his sentences are longer, he’s asking questions, he reads, he rides his bike again, and he loves googling things on his iPad and playing DJ for us.”
The Lauritas are currently writing a book about their experience with autism.
Us Weekly reached out to the Franklin Lakes Public Library for comment.
