Dustin Tolie
“Dustin is a kind-hearted 18-year-old young man who enjoys spending time with his mom and playing video games,” said Katie Shemwell, his Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board service coordinator.
Dustin lives with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) which refers to a group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Even though he does struggle with his social skills, he stepped out of his comfort zone this past year to participate in NextStep’s Teen Social Group, Shemwell reports.
He is diligent in school and is popular with his teachers and classmates. Dustin can have difficulty learning new concepts, but when he masters a concept he excels at it. This Arnold boy would like to continue his education after high school and hopes to pursue a career working with animals.