when earl reached eighteen , he graduated to the states group home system , and although for the first time social workers noted the correct extent of his abilities , they also agreed he was too far gone , that , yes , with a different upbringing he might have led something resembling a normal life , but , no , even though he was close to normal he was nonetheless retarded , and certainly did not have the capacity to undo all hed learned over the years and function on his own in society .