Jerry Stougard, 67, is achieving what he believed his entire life was impossible.

He is learning to read.

Stougard, who suffers from learning disabilities, was told by his teachers as a child that he was incapable of ever learning to read. But last year, Karon Allen, the director of his adult family home, began to think otherwise.

“Sometimes it depends on the teacher, not on the child,” Allen said. “Most of the time, it’s the teacher.”

Allen asked Stougard if he would like to learn to read. When he said yes, she helped him enroll in the adult basic education program at the Multi-Service Center in Federal Way.

After a year of twice-weekly classes, Stougard is now reading at about a second-grade level. He learns by sounding out the words, he said.

“He is just doing fabulous,” Allen said.

Now that he’s learned to read, Stougard enjoys reading the road signs when traveling and reading the news section of the local newspapers.

When it comes time to vote in November, Stougard may be reading his voters pamphlet himself this year.

Previously, Allen would read him the voters pamphlet for each election or take him to meet the candidates.

She would also read his menu for him at restaurants as well as read the Parks and Recreation activities fliers so he could choose what to participate in.

Stougard enjoys reading those things for himself nowadays.

“I wanted to read,” he said.

When he returns home from his classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Stougard beams with pride, Allen said. “Every day he’s got a note from his teacher from the Multi-Service Center and he’s got a grin wider than the door.”

Contact Margo Hoffman: mhoffman@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.