What a summer this has been.

The Olympic Games exceeded even the highest expectations and the outstanding performances of our athletes left the country on a high. After a brief respite, we did it all again. The Paralympic Games were regarded as the biggest and best the world has ever seen and Britain's athletes landed a spectacular haul of more than 100 medals, including four gold medals for our very own Deloitte Ambassador Sarah Storey.

More importantly perhaps, I feel this will be a landmark moment in changing the attitudes of a nation towards people with a disability.

Our firm has had a transformational impact on disability sport in the UK but now the Games are over, we ask what will be the legacy of Deloitte's support and how do we ensure the disability sport movement in the UK continues to go from strength to strength?

One of the central objectives of London 2012 was to "inspire a generation". There is no doubt that the performances have been inspiring but will this translate into increased participation?

It is no easy task.

However, the early signs within disability sport look positive.

Back in 2007, in partnership with the British Paralympic Association (BPA), Deloitte created Parasport, a website that signposts people with a disability to sporting opportunities.

Over 37,500 people visited the site between August 29 and September 10, the period of the Paralympic Games. This compares with 1,400 people during the same period last year, an increase of more than 2,000 per cent.

Parasport saw a 2,000 per cent increase in visitors during the London 2012 Paralympic Games by comparison with the same period the previous year

A significant majority of visitors to the site have used the "Find a Club" function suggesting that people have been inspired by the performances of ParalympicsGB and want to get more active. Almost 3,000 sports clubs are now registered on the site and the integrity of that data is thanks to the countless hours volunteered by Deloitte people over the past five years.

This site will not only help to boost the number of people participating in disability sport, but also acts as a first step in the process of finding the Paralympians of the future. Sam Scowen, a Paralympic rower, found her first club through Deloitte Parasport. Her talent was spotted and she was recommended for a "Paralympic Potential" day. Sam finished just outside the medals at London 2012, fourth place in the TA mixed doubles scull – and is now looking to Rio 2016.

At the same time as helping to create Parasport, Deloitte also signed up to a five-year partnership with SportsAid to support the disability programme of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). Through the scheme, which provides financial support to athletes to help them stay in full-time education as well as pursuing sporting performance, Deloitte has awarded more than 500 bursaries to over 300 athletes.

Sam Scowen and Nick Beighton in action at Eton Dorney during London 2012

Our initial objective for TASS was to support 22 Paralympic competitors but as we developed the programme, the difference our support was making became clear. At Beijing 2008, 33 Deloitte supported athletes competed and our ambition for London soared. Seventy-six current or former recipients of Deloitte funding competed at London 2012 and we are very proud that those athletes delivered a total of eight gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals between them. But the counting doesn't stop at London.

Many of the athletes in receipt of funding from Deloitte are winter athletes so will be aiming to compete at Sochi 2014, while others are talented young athletes who want to represent their country in Rio in four years' time. Deloitte's TASS athletes will be competing at Paralympic Games for years to come.

Finally, in 2010 we established a new corporate cycling challenge, Deloitte Ride Across Britain. The aim of the event was to raise £1 million ($1.6 million/€1.3 million) for the BPA by the 2013 Ride. However, we are pleased to announce that this target has been smashed 12 months early.

Sarah Storey during the Deloitte Ride Across Britain

Storey took receipt of the £1 million ($1.6 million/€1.3 million) cheque last Tuesday (September 18) night before getting back on her bike on Wednesday to join our riders on the 104-mile stage between Haydock Park and Penrith. With the fundraising total now topping £1.1 million ($1.7 million/€1.4 million), this is great news for the BPA since it will continue to be the lead benefiting charity from the event in 2013 and so will receive a further financial boost as planning begins in earnest for Sochi and Rio.

We've already set out how the impact of our disability sport programme will continue to be felt beyond London. In addition, we have begun conversations with the BPA about how we can continue to support the development of disability sport in the UK in future.

Deloitte believes in long-term partnerships and this will not change just because the Paralympic flag has been lowered on London.

Heather Hancock is lead London 2012 partner at Deloitte