The Golden Hat Foundation is a

nonprofit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

founded by actress

Kate Winslet Kate Elizabeth Winslet (; born 5 October 1975) is an English actress. Known for her work in independent films, particularly period dramas, and for her portrayals of headstrong and complicated women, she has received numerous accolades, inc ...

and Margret Ericsdottir in 2010. The two met while Winslet was filming the documentary ''A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism'', which focused on Ericsdottir's son Keli Thorsteinsson, who is

autistic The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...

and non-verbal. The organization centers on raising strengths-focused

autism awareness Autism-friendly means being aware of social engagement and environmental factors affecting people on the autism spectrum, with modifications to communication methods and physical space to better suit individual's unique and special needs. Over ...

and states that their mission is to "Change the way people on the autism spectrum are perceived, by shining a light on their abilities and emphasizing their great potential." The organization takes its name from a poem written by Thorsteinsson, in which he described a magical golden hat that had the ability to speak for its

protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...

, who was unable to speak. In 2011 the Golden Hat Foundation paired with the cosmetics company

Lancôme Lancôme () is a French luxury perfumes and cosmetics house that distributes products internationally. Lancôme is part of the L'Oréal Luxury Products division, which is its parent company and offers luxury skin care, fragrances, and makeup ...

to create a golden hat themed makeup collection, with the intent for part of the proceeds to benefit the organization.

Documentary

''A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism'' released in 2009 and centered upon Ericsdottir's attempts to find a way for her son Keli to communicate. The documentary was directed by Friðrik Þór Friðriksson and featured Winslet as the film's narrator. ''A Mother's Courage'' was met with positive reviews. The documentary introduced Ericsdottir and Winslet to one another, and Winslet came up with the idea of creating the Golden Hat Foundation after her daughter Mia asked Winslet about what it would be like to be unable to communicate with her mother.

Book

On March 27, 2012, Winslet and the Golden Hat Foundation published ''The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism'' through

Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publi ...

. The book compiled correspondence between Winslet and Ericsdottir, personal statements from various celebrities, and several contributions from Ericsdottir's son Keli. ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' gave a positive review for ''The Golden Hat'', praising it for its "warmth and sincerity".

References

{{reflist, 2 Organizations established in 2010 Autism-related organizations in the United States Mental health organizations in Texas 2010 establishments in the United States