Jacqueline Laurita Shares Update on Her Son's Autism

The RHONJ star also reveals how the 'Wives have been supportive.

By Hilary Hughes Dec 30, 2013, 11:43 AM ET

Since receiving the diagnosis of her son's autism, Jacqueline Laurita is hoping to raise awareness for the developmental disorder while starring on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. It hasn't been easy facing these changes and struggles with the cameras rolling, but Jacqueline continues to be strong.

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How is her son faring these days? In a recent interview with In Touch, Jacqueline reveals she's found one thing that's made a big difference. Jacqueline and her husband Chris are big fans of Pleygo, which is a Netflix-like service that rents out LEGO sets. The rotating lineup of the much-adored building block sets is one that's helped build on the strong relationship between Jacqueline and her boy: "I know that playing with LEGOS is something that my son, Nick, and I both enjoy doing together that enhances a connection between us."

Her friends from RHONJ have also been supportive of her ongoing search for effective treatment, too. "They send me links to things that could help him," she says. "Like, I do a lot of researching so they come up with a contact. They know this person who has this child so they help me in that way. Pretty much everyone sends me things they learn. They all send me leads and it’s nice like that."

At the end of the day, it's all about what's best for Nicholas, and Jacqueline has been proud to share her story with viewers—especially because it may reach a parent who needs to hear they're not alone.

"People that aren’t going through [autism] don’t understand it," she says. "I love having the opportunity to be able to show people because honestly, what’s given me strength is listening to everyone else’s stories, their struggles, their successes. That’s what gives us hope and strength, so if I can do that for someone else, then that feels so good to me."