“Growing up with epilepsy, anxiety disorder, learning differences and a sibling with autism, inclusion didn’t come easy for my family. Everyone has a story about feeling left out, picked on or bullied. St. Croix Therapy made my family feel included growing up.””

Brittany Moreland

St. Croix Therapy
742 Sterbenz Drive
Hudson, WI 54016
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HUDSON – St. Croix Therapy strives for inclusion in the community for all people of all abilities, and what better way to do that than to bring a host of resources together in one place?

The nonprofit organization will host its first 365 B.I.G Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 29 at its office in Hudson, located at 742 Sterbenz Drive, Hudson. It is free and geared toward the whole family.

“We believe a resource fair will help the community grow inclusion, acceptance and awareness of all abilities,” said Brittany Moreland, a therapy aide/group coordinator.

Booths will include information on dentists, respite, feeding groups, aquatic therapy, orthotics, county services, parent coaching and horse therapy, among others. All resource businesses are located in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Jesse Horn, an autism motivational speaker, US sport stacker and author, will share his journey with autism and how a sport changes his life.

A representative from WI Reptiles will share cool facts about reptiles and amphibians. Attendees will have a chance to meet some as well, along with Mickey the therapy dog and a baby calf.

Other activities will include an adaptive obstacle course, cup stacking, sensory seed planting and door prizes. Moreland hopes the event will help bridge gaps and create connections between people of all abilities.

“Growing up with epilepsy, anxiety disorder, learning differences and a sibling with autism, inclusion didn’t come easy for my family,” Moreland said. “Everyone has a story about feeling left out, picked on or bullied. St. Croix Therapy made my family feel included growing up.”

Now as an employee, Moreland’s mission is to create events that include all abilities. The resource fair is planned at the perfect time, she said, because River Falls School District is celebrating an inclusion week this month.

“Working at a non-profit company has taught me how big of an impact the community has on inclusion,” Moreland said. “Our goal with the resource event is to make sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. We want families to know they are not alone and give our clients a chance to build peer connections.”

Gretta Stark Leuma, a family friend of the Morelands, said she has friends and family with autism and her life is richer and better for having them in it.

“It’s sadly too often that kids get bullied, picked on or even just left out because they’re different,” Leuma said. “Even growing up I know some of the kids who were bullied worst were ones with disabilities. They weren’t understood, so they were ostracized.”

To learn more about St. Croix Therapy’s services, visit stcroixtherapy.org or call 715-386-2128.