RIVER FALLS – Can you sing, dance, tell jokes, perform magic tricks, play an instrument, or perform another special talent? If so, you’re invited to participate in the St. Croix Therapy Got Talent event at St. Bridget’s Church (211 E. Division St., River Falls) on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Brittany Moreland, a therapy aide/group coordinator at St. Croix Therapy, hopes the event will help bridge gaps and create connections between individuals of all abilities. All ages from 1 to 100 are welcome to participate.

“After the talent show, there will be a sensory bin, games, and Limitless Cycling will be giving adaptive bike rides in the St. Bridget’s parking lot,” Moreland said.

The idea is to bring clients, their brothers and sisters and the community together. St. Croix Therapy’s Board of Directors applied for and received a Sparks grant from the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. The grant money is meant to help organizations understand and implement inclusive programming better and help people with disabilities be more included and known in the community.

One member proposed a talent show after watching her grandchild perform in a school talent show. Moreland said the idea was a hit.

“We wanted to broaden it and make it about all abilities,” Moreland said. “Mainly the biggest thing is just showcasing your talent. The big mission is showing that no matter what ability you have, you have a special talent. The big focus is building connections in the community and creating inclusion.”

All participants will perform in a welcoming atmosphere in front of a supportive audience. Moreland, a former St. Bridget’s member, said the church is a welcoming place where families can feel safe and not judged. All participants will get ribbons.

Participants must sign up by Sept. 30 using the link or QR code on the flyer or in the Facebook event. Paper applications are available at St. Croix Therapy (742 Sterbenz Drive, Hudson).

The talent show will go from about 1-1:45 p.m. Limitless Cycling will begin giving rides at 1:45 p.m.

“If a participant is waiting for a bike ride, there will be sensory stations and games,” Moreland said. “For some families, it’s tough to go for the whole event. They can do one or the other. We just ask that if they’re doing just bikes, to come at 1:45 p.m. so as not to interrupt performances.”

The event is free, although donations are greatly appreciated.

About the sponsors

Limitless Cycling is a nonprofit organization that supports and honors seniors, veterans, and the less-abled communities young and old alike. They bring adaptive bicycles to various senior living facilities, community centers, youth clubs, and trails in, and around, the St. Croix River Valley.

St. Croix Therapy, a non- profit, ouers both traditional and innovative therapeutic techniques to aid in the development and treatment of children as well as physical development and recovery therapies for adults. Its mission is to provide customized innovative therapeutic techniques and year-round programs to people with challenges and disabilities so that they can achieve increased independence through developing skills in functional movement, sensory processing, social skills, and communication. Their services integrate physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapies.

Formerly known as Special Children’s Center, St. Croix Therapy has served the St. Croix Valley since 1986. They provide services to children with disabilities, developmental delays and sensory processing disorder and to adults with disabilities and chronic pain. They contract with Pierce, St. Croix and Polk counties for Birth to Three services. They also ouer adaptive swim lessons, open swim, community swim and social skills groups.

“I went there as a kid and watched my sister have therapy and I knew that’s where I wanted to work someday,” Moreland said. “They just impacted my family so much and I see that with other families too. So I was very thank- ful when my sister's first therapist reached out and said they had an opening. It’s very dear to my heart.”

St. Croix Therapy serves families not only in the St. Croix Valley, but in Eau Claire and the Twin Cities.

“You don’t have to have a disability to come to some of our programming,” Moreland said.

St. Croix Therapy bills insurance companies for the therapy it ouers, which helps to cover basic operating costs. However, as a small nonprofit, it counts on partnerships, donors, community grants and foundations to assure young people and their families have access to year-round workshops, groups, camps and programs.

To learn more, visit www. stcroixtherapy.org