We want to promote inclusion for people with special needs and disabilities.
The fields of adaptive sports, education, employment and culture need strong ambassadors and visible role models, because representation matters. By highlighting athletes with disabilities, we encourage participation, support accessibility, and promote greater understanding and inclusion. Our support team is united by a strong desire to create lasting change, improve quality of life, and advance the full inclusion and equal participation of people with disabilities.
Jüri Lehtmets
One of my greatest passions is bringing para sport to people with limited physical abilities. For more than 20 years, I have helped make powerchair floorball available in Estonia. This has given many people the opportunity to experience sport, teamwork, the joy of movement, and personal achievement, regardless of physical limitations.
I also advocate for the development of para sport as a member of the Estonian Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission, because I believe that sport creates opportunities, brings people together, and helps build confidence and independence.
As Chairman of the Estonian Muscular Dystrophy Association, I lead by personal example in advocating for the right of people with greater support needs to live active, fulfilling and ambitious lives. I have also brought together my experiences and observations in the book Masterclass in Adaptation, which explores adaptation, recognising opportunities and having the courage to embrace life.
In addition to para sport, another great passion of mine is developing accessible tourism for people with disabilities. I have organised various tours for both members of the association and groups of friends, because I believe that travel broadens horizons, builds confidence, and enables people to experience life to the fullest, regardless of mobility limitations.
I am pleased that my efforts have also been recognised—in 2024, I was named one of the three most influential people with disabilities in Estonia. This recognition gives me even greater motivation to advocate for more opportunities and visibility for people with disabilities, and to encourage them to pursue their dreams with confidence.
From personal experience, I know how important foundations that support initiatives for people with disabilities can be. Their support often makes it possible to launch projects that genuinely improve people’s lives and expand their opportunities to participate more actively in society.
As an ambassador for the STAR Fond, I want to help ensure that such initiatives reach more people and receive the attention and support they need.
Maikel Mõttus
My name is Maikel Mõttus and I am a disability advocate from Estonia living with cerebral palsy. For more than 30 years, I have shown that disability does not define a person's potential or ambitions.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture from Tallinn University and currently work as a Project Assistant in the project ”Equal Opportunities and Inclusion in Career Development”. I am serving my second term on the Board of the Estonian Union of Persons with Physical Disabilities, where I advocate for a more accessible, equal, and inclusive society. ”Equal Opportunities and Inclusion in Career Development”I am serving my second term on the Board of the Estonian Union of Persons with Physical Disabilities, where I advocate for a more accessible, equal, and inclusive society.
I am also the Event Manager of the inclusive culture festival ”Diversity of Differences”, the founder and co-host of the „Sandid Hoos“ podcast, and a member of the Social Affairs Committee of the City of Keila.
I believe that everyone deserves equal opportunities to learn, work, participate, and live an active and fulfilling life – regardless of the special needs or limitations. Alongside my advocacy work, I am passionate about fitness and healthy living and I believe that sport, physical activity and well-being should be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
Through my work and personal example, I hope to inspire others, challenge stereotypes, and help create a more inclusive world which appreciates diversity and where everyone is enjoying equal opportunities to live up to their potential.
Knut Nystad
I believe society becomes richer and stronger when everyone is given an equal opportunity to participate, develop and contribute throughout their lives.
As the first CEO of Stiftelsen VI in Norway, I experienced firsthand how limited awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face can restrict participation. These barriers are real and affect everyday life, yet they are often overlooked by those who do not experience them themselves.
Greater awareness is therefore essential. When we acknowledge the challenges, build knowledge and focus on people’s abilities rather than their disabilities, we can begin to remove unnecessary barriers. By focusing on what people can do, instead of what they cannot do, we unlock human potential and create a more inclusive society.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part, to grow as a person, and to experience the dignity, purpose and sense of belonging that come from contributing to something greater than oneself.
This is not only about improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. It is about building a stronger and more inclusive society that benefits us all. That is why I am proud to support STAR Fond as an ambassador.
