Caroline Manzo Honors Autism Awareness Day

Caroline Manzo wants you to get blue for a good cause. Buildings around the world – including New York's famed Empire State Building – will turn their lights blue on April 2 to commemorate the fourth annual World Autism Awareness Day, and the Real Housewives of New Jersey star recently leant her support to the cause. She got behind the "Light It Up Blue" campaign by retweeting a message on Friday morning from Melinda Mizrachi that read, "Please wear blue today to support autism awareness. Also light a blue light bulb as well. Thanks for supporting my son Jonathan."

According to Autism Speaks, one child in every 110 is diagnosed with autism – a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate -- and those numbers are only rising. In the past two decades alone, there's been a staggering 600 (that's right, 600!) percent increase in cases. Signs that a child may be autistic include he or she doesn't smile by six months, or point and wave by 12 months. Additional red flags may be that the child isn't speaking words by 16 months or seems to tune people out and rather play alone than with other children.

Autism varies in its severity, and you should contact your physician if you think your child could have autism. For more information, visit autismspeaks.org.