'Real Housewives' Star Says Library Asked Autistic Son To Leave

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Jacqueline Laurita said her autistic son was asked to leave the local public library because he was making "non contextual vocals and tapping" sounds. She posted a video from the scene on her social media pages.

The video has been viewed more than 155,000 times since Laurita posted on Facebook and Instagram Sunday morning. In it, her son Nicholas was pulling DVDs off the shelf and tapping them. Someone in the background can be heard saying "shh" and "quiet" after Nicholas taps the DVDs and makes a noise.

Laurita, a Franklin Lakes resident, said they were asked to leave the library. No staff members could be seen in the video.

"So... Nicholas got kicked out of one of his favorite spots (our public library) this week. I guess non contextual vocals and tapping on the DVDs are frowned upon. He had a meltdown as I struggled to get him to leave. 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," Laurita posted along with the video.

Laurita posted a follow-up video saying that she was "not OK" with what happened and that she was "determined to make a difference." Several hashtags were included in the video post: #TimeForChange, #TimeForInclusion, #TimeForAction, and #ChrisAndJacFightBack.

Laurita and other "Real Housewives" raised thousands of dollars for autism research in 2012 at Sparkle Speaks, a fundraiser, which was held right after Nicholas was diagnosed.

"It is something that we're taking one day at a time and to get the support that we've received from so many people is amazing. Everyone, all of the families who have an Autistic child, they need that support too," Laurita said in 2012. "We need to make sure other people receive that support too."

The Board of Trustees said in a statement that "no patron is ever asked to leave the library unless and until their actions are depriving other patrons of the ability to enjoy our services."

Related: 'Housewife' Helps Raise Money for Autism Research

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Photo: Jacqueline Laurita and her son Nicholas (YouTube screenshot)