With Asperger’s, a form of autism, people lack the inner voice that tells them what is, or is not, appropriate behavior. At Fraser Child & Family Center in Minneapolis, staff came up with the idea of programming iPods to act as an electronic substitute for that missing voice.

The staff helped students create a series of short videos and slide shows on how to behave in different social settings. The students can transfer the videos onto their iPods, and replay them over and over, to drive the lessons home. These scripts are known as “social stories,” used to teach basic social skills. Some are barely 30 seconds long: How to carry on a conversation (“Let the other person talk AND change the topic…”); how to respect other people’s boundaries, and think before they speak (“Use your filter!”).