In 1969, Annandale Village was a dream that became reality for Dr. and Mrs. Maxwell Berry, a dedicated father and mother who wanted their daughter to have an opportunity to live a life reflecting quality, self-worth, independence and achievement. 

The Berrys purchased 100 acres of land in what was then rural Gwinnett County, approximately 30 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia. Soon thereafter, their daughter, Libba, and other adults with intellectual disabilities came to call Annandale Village home.

Since then, many significant milestones have been achieved for adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Today, Annandale Village is one of only three non-profit organizations in the entire United States, and the only one in the southeast, serving adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries at all stages of life and care – a full continuum – from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing.

As Annandale Village’s services on its campus grew and evolved throughout the decades, a need to extend the continuum of care off campus became apparent when Jay, then living on Annandale’s campus, expressed interest in living independently in the community at-large. While Jay began building the skills necessary to live in the greater community with support from Annandale Village staff, the organization began searching for a director to lead the program. With the direction from Annandale Village’s strategic plan, the Independent Living Program was launched in 2018 with two participants.

Since the program’s inception, the Independent Living Program has undergone a complete makeover, now called “All In.” Serving individuals who live in their own apartments or homes throughout metro Atlanta, All In is a complementary level in Annandale Village’s continuum of care, meeting the needs of adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities who desire a community based independent living option.