. >> reporter: but last year father and son stopped at the lot of apple ford lincoln, and for the first time a salesman paid attention to him. matt liukin introduced jake to some of his dealership co-workers. >> how are you? >> good. >> reporter: and from there things took off. don't bother looking for an unlocked door at apple ford lincoln or a wheel that's not straight or a bumper over the line. >> he feels like he's a part of something. >> reporter: it's hard, as parents, to be told your 3-year-old will never read or write or even drive one of those cars he love, but at 17, jake has found his place. >> keep her going. >> reporter: several times a week jake's parents bring him by after school to tend to his lot. that's the senior sales manager he's leading around. to see jake so at ease picking the colors for the showroom display. a mom can't say thank you enough to the employees of a car dealership who shared a little. >> oh! >> uh-oh. did you find one? >> yeah. >> reporter: and gave a lot. >> i think we did pretty good. >> reporter: for nbc news, boyd hoopert, apple valley, minnesot