The Canadian, a member of the IPC and International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (Inas) working group on the classification of such athletes, worked to provide the framework for the "Eligibility Classification Research" project after it was discovered that some athletes who took part at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics were ineligible to compete.

Following the Games, the intellectual impairment group was removed from the Paralympic programme until a reliable system for determining athlete eligibility and sport-specific classification was developed.

Her work in the international sporting community then eventually led to 120 intellectually impaired athletes competing at London 2012 in athletics, swimming and table tennis.

"I am delighted and humbled to be the recipient of the 2015 Paralympic Scientific Award," Mactavish, the Dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University, said.

"This tribute rightfully belongs to a dedicated community of academics, graduate students, coaches and sport federations from around the world, who have worked together over the years to address a complex question that unanswered would continue to exclude athletes with intellectual impairment from showcasing their talents at the highest level of sport.

"I am very proud of what we have accomplished, and particularly so for the athletes who can again dream of representing their countries as Paralympians.”

She is now due to receive her Paralympic Scientific Award at the VISTA 2015 Conference, which takes place in the Spanish city of Girona from October 7 to 10.

"I would like to congratulate Professor Mactavish who has spent her entire life in the pursuit of equal opportunities for all on winning this award,” Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said.

"The reintroduction of intellectually impaired athletes back into the Paralympic Games was the outcome of a unique and excellent collaboration between sports governance and the scientific community.

"Professor Mactavish played a significant role in that reintroduction and every single athlete with an intellectual impairment who competed at London 2012 and who will line-up at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games should be thankful for her tremendous contribution.

"She is a worthy winner and I look forward to presenting her with the award at October's VISTA 2015 conference in Girona."

The award, given biennially to an academic researcher for his or her contributions to research in the field of sports for persons with an impairment, has been designed to promote and encourage further study in the area.

More information about VISTA 2015 is available here.