Casa Colina Children's Services Center Unveils First-of-its-Kind Huunat Interactive Musical Playground

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is proud to announce the unveiling of the Huunat Interactive Musical Playground at its Children's Services Center. This innovative therapeutic space, made possible by a generous grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and other community partners, is set to transform therapy for children who have or are at risk for acquired or developmental delays in health, communication, cognitive development, and social-emotional development.

The playground features unique, custom-designed elements such as magical pebbles, illuminated musical flowers, and a musical staircase, all interconnected through customizable software. These features create an engaging environment where children can participate in therapy through play and music, fostering their development in speech, motor, and social skills. The Huunat Interactive Musical Playground is the first of its kind in the United States, setting a new standard for engaging therapeutic spaces for children with developmental delays.

"The Huunat Interactive Musical Playground is a dream come true for our Children's Services Center," said Michele Alaniz, BCP, OTR/L, a board-certified occupational therapist and director of the center. "This playground empowers our therapists with a dynamic and customizable tool that enhances the effectiveness of our therapies while making them more personalized for our young patients."

The playground’s first-of-its-kind design is the result of a collaborative effort between Casa Colina and Heath Interactive. A shared vision for a therapeutic space that seamlessly blends music, play, and technology has now become a reality. Clinicians can use a web-based application to instantly modify game modes and sound libraries, tailoring the experience to each child's evolving needs in real time.

A longtime supporter, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, has been instrumental in making this project a success through their financial generosity.

Other generous donors who contributed to the playground include:

The WM Keck Foundation

The Uplanders Charitable Club Organization

The Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation

Niagara Bottling, LLC

Pomona Rotary Club

The Golden State Foods Foundation

Jim and Terri Hooper

Robert A. Scudder

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on August 8, 2024 to celebrate the grand opening, attended by community leaders, donors, and Casa Colina staff. The event was a testament to the power of community collaboration and the shared commitment to improving the lives of children with acquired or developmental disabilities.

About Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare
Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare is a nonprofit provider of specialized medical and rehabilitative care for people of all ages with disabling conditions resulting from accidents, disease, or illness. Its continuum of care includes medical-surgical and intensive care, acute rehabilitation, residential rehabilitation, and long-term residential care. Outpatient services include orthopedic and neurologic rehabilitation, physician clinics with nearly 30 medical specialties, children’s services, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, audiology, and day treatment. Casa Colina is also home to a research institute, adaptive recreation and wheelchair sports program, and several residency programs. Located in Pomona, with satellite outpatient services in nearby Azusa, Casa Colina has proudly served the Southern California community and beyond for more than 85 years. Visit www.casacolina.org to learn more.

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally-recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California. San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic and cultural development. As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region.