To improve the lives of individuals with physical limitations by providing innovative, high-quality rehabilitation products and daily living aids that support independent living.
We began in 1958 as a one-man mail-order operation called Button-King, founded by Fred Sammons, an occupational therapist and military veteran. Fred started his career at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, becoming its Director of Occupational Therapy by 1957. In 1960, he joined Northwestern University's amputee clinic where he began designing devices in his basement to help patients with disabilities regain independence. His simple wire button-hook device, which sold for just one dollar, helped people with limited hand dexterity fasten their own buttons.
By 1965, demand for Fred's homemade adaptive devices had grown so great that he left his day job to focus full-time on manufacturing and distributing his inventions. What began as a basement workshop became known as the 'Sears catalog' for occupational therapists — a go-to source for adaptive tools nationwide. The company grew into Sammons BeOK and later merged with J.A. Preston, a physical therapy company, to become Sammons Preston.
Today, we are part of Performance Health and continue our commitment to providing innovative rehabilitation and daily living aids. For over 70 years, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and healthcare professionals have relied on our adaptive utensils, reachers, dressing aids, bath safety products, and orthopedic supports. We remain dedicated to helping individuals with physical limitations maintain their independence and quality of life.
At the core of Sammons Preston is Clinician-designed adaptive devices originally created by occupational therapists at rehabilitation clinics.