If you haven’t been a big fan of Kate Winslet in the past, you will soon to change your tune when you hear this. The lovely mother of two will soon be gracing the cover of Ladies Home Journal in which she will open up about motherhood and her new book, The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism.

While neither of her children is autistic, the Oscar-winner is driven to dispel the myths and raise awareness about people living with autism. The Golden Hat, to be published in November by Simon & Schuster, will feature a series of more than a dozen celebrity self-portraits, and tell the story of how Winslet came to know Margret Dagmar Ericsdottir and her son Keli, who is autistic and nonverbal. Winslet was inspired by the boy and his journey to learn to communicate, and titled her book after his poem “The Golden Hat,” in which a magical hat allows a boy with autism to communicate.

With her book, Winslet hopes to break down the biggest myth about autistic children. “That they are not capable of understanding anything, that they are completely locked in their own worlds and aren’t paying attention to anything around them or that they are disinterested,” Winslet explains. “Even those closest to them sometimes believe that. And so often that proves not to be the case.”

Each celebrity featured will be pictured with a “magical” hat for the book and will share a personal statement about what their first words would be if they were finally freed from years of being incapable of communicating.

Stanford Business for Aspies is set to be released February 2011

Most workplaces are a frenzied swirl of social interaction—between employees and bosses, customers and clients, and anyone else present. People with a mental framework better suited to non-social tasks can often be overlooked and underutilized in such an environment. The upcoming book Business for Aspies: 42 Best Practices for Using Asperger Syndrome Traits at Work Successfully is explaining exactly how persons with Asperger Syndrome can get their talents recognized and become successful and indispensable employees.

Following the DSM system and an easy to use format, Ashley Stanford addresses all of the issues that can arise once a person with AS secures employment, through the eyes of both employee and employer. Describing what might be expected of any employee, she offers helpful tips and suggestions not only to enable AS individuals to achieve their fullest potential, but to take advantage of their strengths. In a positive and upbeat tone, she shows that with the right supports and strategies, it is possible to overcome the day-to-day challenges that trip up even the most savvy Aspie, including negotiating pay raises, employer/employee relationships, team meetings, career advancement, and choosing when to take vacation time. Drawing on her experience as CEO of a computer software company, she also suggests steps that employers and managers can take to improve the working environment for people with AS, and take advantage of their strengths to enable them to become outstanding employees.

Business for Aspies will help people with AS take steps towards achieving happy, fulfilled and above all successful working lives. It will be of key interest to the employers, managers, partners, and families of people with AS.

Ashley Stanford has worked as a technical writer for 16 years and is the CEO of a successful computer software company. She is the author of Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She lives in Berkeley, CA.

To purchase this title: CLICK HERE

Due February 2011 • 240 pages • ISBN 978-1-84905-845-2 • PB • $19.95