Each of the 28 National Paralympic Committees which currently make up the APC have until Friday (May 8) to nominate one candidate who has "strong qualities of leadership, accomplishment, knowledge and respect, both on and off the field of play".

Candidates with "experience in and commitment to the advocacy of athlete related issues" will also be welcomed.

All applicants must be active athletes, having either competed in the Guadalajara 2011 Parapan American Games or be intending to participate at August's Parapan American Games in Toronto.

Elections will take place during those Games, due to be held in the Canadian city from August 7 to 15,  with the elected athlete to serve a four year term to provide an athletes' perspective on a "whole range of issues covering the Paralympic Movement in the Americas".

A shortlist of candidates for elections will be announced at least two months prior to the Opening Ceremony in Toronto, it has been confirmed.

They will be seeking to follow the path set by Terezinha Guilhermina, the Brazilian sprinter who won the 200 metres T11 titles at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and who was elected to the APC Executive Committee for a four year term in 2011.

More information can be found on the APC website here.

Related stories:
February 2015: Americas Paralympic Committee begin hunt for new athlete representative
January 2015: APC and PASO sign collaboration agreement