Anaise Theuerkauf
2006
Anaise “Sis” Theuerkauf is a pioneer in the development of sports for those with disabilities. Not only is she a program developer, a teacher, a publisher, a presenter, a meet director, an official, and a coach for those with disabilities, but she is also a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, a Certified Case Manager, and a strong advocate for persons with disabilities. As the Director of Recreation Therapy at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital in Birmingham, AL from 1980–85, Sis established a unique approach of continuing rehabilitation for people with disabilities through participation in sports.
Sis was the Meet Director for the Dixie Regional Games in 1983 and 1985. In 1985, Sis founded Education and Sports Consultants, Inc. (ESCI) to provide educational programs for disabled populations, in particular children and young adults. Programs developed through ESCI from 1985–89 include:
(a) in-service seminars for the Louisiana school system’s Adapted Physical Education teachers;
(b) instructional manual and teaching guide for mobility skills training;
(c) presented programs integrating students with brain injury into public schools for special education teachers in Louisiana;
(d) Wheelchair Mobility Curriculum, Wheelchair Sports Curriculum for Basketball and Track and Field, and Advanced Mobility Curriculum for Project CREOLE Public Schools System in New Orleans;
(e) GUMBO Classic Policies and Procedures Manual, GUMBO Official’s Policies and Procedures Manual, and Coaching Guide for Wheelchair Track and Field for Project GUMBO, Louisiana Department of Education.
From 1986–88, she helped develop a sports program at F. Edward Hebert Hospital in New Orleans while also providing adaptive water skiing workshops in Alabama, Texas, and Kansas. From 1986–91, she served as the head coach for Louisiana’s state team of disabled athletes (Louisiana Mudbugs). She also served as the Wheelchair Division Race Director of the Crescent City Classic 10K in New Orleans during this time.
In 1986, Sis was the Meet Director of the Disabled Division for the Alabama Sports Festival and was also selected as Staff Coach for the USA Pan American Wheelchair Track Team at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico. In 1987, Sis was the Starting Line Coordinator at the Boston Marathon and served as the U.S. Quadriplegic Team Coach at the Stoke Mandeville Games in England.
In 1987–88, she served as the U.S. Paralympic Quad Team Coach for the 8th Paralympic Games in Seoul, Korea, where the Quad Team captured nine world records and a number of gold, silver, and bronze medals. During this time, Sis was also the Chief Official for the Southern Wheelchair Athletic Association (SWAA) Regional Track & Field Competition and the Starting Line Coordinator at the Azalea Trail Run in Mobile, AL.
In 1990, Sis was the Meet Director for the 10th National Veterans Wheelchair Games in New Orleans, LA, with over 500 athletes competing in events ranging from archery and field events to track and basketball. In 1999, Sis was selected as the Medical Support Staff for the U.S. Junior National Team in Perth, Australia.