The Sammons Center for Innovation and Research in Occupation Based Technology at Western Michigan University celebrates the legacy of Dr.Fred Sammons, an occupational therapist, who is well known around the world for his exemplary contributions as an inventor, businessman, entrepreneur, clinician, educator and philanthropist.
Request for Proposals
Review and submit one of the applications below.
Sammons Grant Highlight- Im'Peck'able Innovations
Recent WMU OTD Graduate and recipient of the Sammons Center for Innovation and Research Grant, Dr. Alex Field, used grant funds to improve accessibility to the occupation of birding. Read more about Dr. Field, his capstone project, and his utilization of the Sammons Grant.
Sammons Center Celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary!
Sammons 10th Anniversary
The Sammons Center for Innovation and Research in Occupation-Based Technology celebrates Fred Sammons, PhD (Hon), OT, FAOTA, an occupational therapist who is world renowned for his exemplary contributions as an inventor, businessman, entrepreneur, clinician, educator, and philanthropist. In 2024, the Sammons Center celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary. In honor of this milestone, a special request for proposals (RFP) was established for two $10,000 awards for an innovation that promises to enable people to actively engage and participate in everyday occupation. Awardees Carloyn Sithong and Katelynn Kemski were recognized at a special celebration held in the College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University on April 17. The winning project proposals and awardees are described below:
Aquatic Safety for Autism Training Program - Improving Access to Swim Lessons for Individuals with Autism
Katelynn Kemski, MOT OTR/L
Home for Life Design® Home Assessment Technology for OT Practitioners
Carolyn Sithong, MS, OTR/L, SCEM, CAPS, FAOTA
The Fred Sammons Archives
Learn all about Dr. Fred Sammons, an iconic treasure to the occupational therapy profession and, to our great fortune, the Department of Occupational Therapy at WMU. Dr. Sammons' amazing contributions to occupational therapy have been captured in a comprehensive set of interviews, videos, photos, and historical artifacts by way of the Sammons Archives, created by Dr. Roger O. Smith, Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Every practicing OT today who uses adaptive devices to enable a client to participate and engage in occupation can thank Fred for creating, manufacturing, and distributing his inventions that led to the Sammons Preston, an AbilityOne Company.
Go to fredsammons.org and enjoy the rich history of a man who was noted as being one of 100 Most Influential Occupational Therapists in the first 100 years of our profession!
