About
My name is Julie, and this is my sister, Annie.
Annie, who arrived 18 months before me, was born with Albright's Hereditary Osteodystrophy. This is a fancy medical term that means she was born with a genetic disorder.
The 1980's didn't have the medical advancements that we have now, so Annie grew up without a diagnosis. We just knew that she had some form of a learning disability.
Her disability makes it impossible for her to live on her own. Even though she is high functioning, she'll never be able to drive a vehicle. Finding a job where managers and employees are trained how to engage positively with her has been a challenge.
Annie, who arrived 18 months before me, was born with Albright's Hereditary Osteodystrophy. This is a fancy medical term that means she was born with a genetic disorder.
The 1980's didn't have the medical advancements that we have now, so Annie grew up without a diagnosis. We just knew that she had some form of a learning disability.
Her disability makes it impossible for her to live on her own. Even though she is high functioning, she'll never be able to drive a vehicle. Finding a job where managers and employees are trained how to engage positively with her has been a challenge.
We are sisters on a mission.
We want to create the first all-inclusive micro-community for special needs adults in the state of Georgia.
We are calling this dream "Family First Villages". Think "cruise ship" style living or "college campus" living when the campus is located in an area where people walk everywhere.
The residents will have their own apartments, similar to a college dorm, with a resident advisor on the hall. Each micro-community will have shops, restaurants, and family activities for the entire neighboring community, but everything will be under the main umbrella of the Family First Villages nonprofit.
We want to create a safe and thriving environment for adults with special needs; a place where they will have community and a life they can create that will give them value and purpose.
We are calling this dream "Family First Villages". Think "cruise ship" style living or "college campus" living when the campus is located in an area where people walk everywhere.
The residents will have their own apartments, similar to a college dorm, with a resident advisor on the hall. Each micro-community will have shops, restaurants, and family activities for the entire neighboring community, but everything will be under the main umbrella of the Family First Villages nonprofit.
We want to create a safe and thriving environment for adults with special needs; a place where they will have community and a life they can create that will give them value and purpose.