TheraTrooper Highlight

By Scott Hollander, Talent Acquisition Resource

Our TheraTrooper, Samantha Libman OTR/L, presented a poster and spoke in a session of ILOTA (Illinois OT Conference), Nov. 21-22, 2025. We are very proud of Sam and appreciate her dedication to occupational therapy. She has been a TheraTrooper since July 2025 and has been at Lemon Grove Care & Rehabilitation, and she is ready for her next assignment. You may be seeing her as she travels around Ensign-affiliated facilities!

Her poster presentation highlights the application of Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing (Dunn, 2010) in architectural design to promote inclusive, sensory-friendly environments. Attendees explored how occupational therapy can inform infrastructure projects, with tools like the Sensory Design Magazine, her capstone project, offering practical strategies to support diverse sensory needs and enhance participation in public spaces.

Drawing from real-world collaborations with architects, Samantha highlighted how occupational therapy practitioners can advocate for sensory-friendly features — such as quiet zones and adjustable lighting — and why consulting with diverse stakeholders is key to shaping accessible spaces for all. It helped OTs learn practical strategies to increase comfort and participation in everyday places, especially for children and individuals with sensory processing needs.