Every child deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of their challenges. Yet for many families, the path to supporting a child with special needs is filled with confusion, frustration, and uncertainty. Accessing the right resources, finding the right support, and navigating the system can feel like an overwhelming task. But some individuals, motivated by their own experiences, are determined to change this reality. Liina Lokko is one of those people.
As the Founder Early Inclusion Center in Estonia, Liina has made it her life’s work to create a world where children with special needs are seen, supported, and included in every part of society. Her journey started not as a leader or advocate, but as a mother faced with the unexpected challenge of her daughter’s diagnosis with Down syndrome and a heart defect. In a country where inclusive education and support services were nearly non-existent at the time, Liina refused to accept that limited options should define her daughter’s future.
What began as a personal quest to find better resources for her own child quickly transformed into a broader mission to change how the system works for all children with special needs. Today, Early Inclusion Center stands as a witness to Liina’s vision—a place where families are empowered, children are nurtured, and inclusion is at the heart of everything. It’s a journey born from the desire to make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Let’s explore the story of Liina, and learn how her personal experiences shaped her mission to provide vital support for children with special needs in Estonia!
A Personal Journey of Transformation
Liina’s journey into the field of early intervention and rehabilitation began with an unexpected challenge—the birth of her daughter in 2000. Upon receiving the diagnosis of Down syndrome and a heart defect, Liina was faced with a dual challenge: understanding her daughter’s needs and navigating a system that offered few options for children with special needs. In Estonia, during that time, inclusive education was largely non-existent, and children with special needs were either left at home or placed in segregated groups.
Determined to give her daughter the best chance, Liina began researching educational opportunities in other countries. With a Master’s degree in Public Health, she recognized that the challenges faced by her daughter were not just personal concerns but also societal issues that echoed across communities worldwide. Her background in public health provided her with insights into the broader implications of these children’s struggles, highlighting that unresolved issues affecting children often translate into larger public problems that concern the whole society.
She recalls, “I could not accept this lack of choices and began to actively research how children with Down syndrome were taught in other countries.” Her drive to understand and to advocate for better services led her to connect with international organizations, learning as much as she could about inclusive education. She started reaching out to people in Tallinn who had connections to systems abroad, and, from there, the foundation for change began to take shape.
Her resolve led to the opening of the first playroom and day-care service in Tartu in 2003, a space that allowed children of all developmental levels and abilities to come together and engage. This simple yet powerful idea quickly gained popularity. Parents and children alike flocked to this inclusive environment, where they could interact, learn, and grow together. “It became very popular because children and parents gathered there, regardless of the children’s developmental levels or abilities,” she notes. The playroom became the first seed for Early Inclusion Center, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead to the establishment of a private kindergarten and rehabilitation services.
A Vision for Change
In 2005, Liina took another significant step toward creating systemic change by starting to prepare for the opening of a private kindergarten, Anni Lasteaed. The mission was clear: to ensure all children, regardless of their developmental abilities, could play and learn side by side. “We opened the kindergarten in 2006, and then it was a natural progression to expand into the social sector,” she reflects. By 2010, Early Inclusion Center began offering rehabilitation services, providing both children and families with a comprehensive support system to help them thrive.
At the core of Liina’s leadership and vision is a deeply rooted belief in the power of inclusion. “Every child has the right to receive help, and that help can be of good quality if we also assist the child’s parents,” she emphasizes. It is not just about treating the child’s needs, but also supporting the parents, recognizing that the challenges families face extend beyond the child’s diagnosis. “I truly believe that every family should be helped as much as we possibly can, because every child is valuable,” Liina adds, underscoring the integral role that families play in the healing and growth process.
Overcoming Systemic Challenges
Throughout her career, Liina has encountered a number of challenges, particularly with Estonia’s fragmented approach to rehabilitation. She explains, “In Estonia, medical rehabilitation and social rehabilitation have been separated a long time. Children with intellectual disabilities or certain mental disorders cannot be treated in the classical way of medical rehabilitation in medical system. Instead, they require continuous development activities tailored to their condition to ensure as independent life as possible.” This division between health and social rehabilitation has created barriers for children with special needs, as many children who do not have a health diagnosis but require developmental services are left without support. In public documents, it may seem like all services are in place, but their actual availability is very limited. The system is fragmented, and finding services tailored to the child’s condition is challenging for families.
Liina has long advocated for a more integrated approach to rehabilitation, where children with intellectual disabilities or autism are not seen as “sick” but are recognized as needing ongoing developmental support.
“I have always believed that a child with intellectual disabilities or autism is not a sick child. The number of children with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders is increasing worldwide because problems are being identified earlier, and diagnosis is faster. However, we must be honest—mostly they do not need classical rehabilitation or clinical intervention,” she says. “Instead, these children, along with their families, require consistent cross-disciplinary support to help them achieve independence. Also fortunately, the involvement of parents in children’s services is becoming increasingly common. However, the needs of other children in the family still receive too little attention during support services. In my view, this is also really important issue—if the needs of siblings are overlooked or not discussed during family work, their risk of developing mental health problems increases significantly. At some point, the family could end up with multiple children requiring assistance”.
This belief is what drives Early Inclusion Center’s approach, where the emphasis is placed not just on therapy but on helping children and parents integrate into their community and everyday life.
The barriers Liina has faced in advocating for better systems highlight the complexity of the work she does. “Navigating services can be difficult, and meeting the child’s needs may come at the expense of the parents themselves or the other children in the family. If I put myself in a parent’s shoes, the service must be designed in such a way that I can go to work and also attend to the needs of my two sons who are developing according to their age,” she acknowledges. Despite these challenges, she continues to press forward, believing that every effort made to improve the system is worth it.
Innovative Approaches in Rehabilitation
At Early Inclusion Center, innovation plays a crucial role in improving rehabilitation outcomes. One of the standout initiatives Liina and her team developed was the 24-hour service for children with intellectual disabilities and mental health challenges. Over several years, the center offered children the opportunity to stay for extended periods—4-5 days at a time—learning essential life skills such as using utensils, potty training, and following routines.
“Many children practiced potty training, and many followed a 24-hour routine—waking up, brushing teeth, having breakfast, etc.,” Liina recalls. These small yet significant milestones in children’s independence were achieved in a supportive, structured environment. During these weeks, parents also received feedback and advice, helping them reinforce what their children were learning. “Let me give an example: a teenage boy with an intellectual disability was constantly aggressive at a nearby school, making teaching impossible, as he would also run-away during outbursts. At home, the child was aggressive because there was bullying among the siblings. On the first evening of services, we realized the real issue—the child was bedwetting and using diapers. Therefore, the first goal was set: nighttime wake-ups and potty training, along with working on self-esteem and family counseling to adjust household habits. The child received support from the services, and stigmatization at both school and home decreased significantly, while running away and aggression diminished. We might ask ourselves—could a similar independent living learning process have been carried out within the education or healthcare systems?”
While the program was extremely successful, it was not without its challenges. Initially, parents were apprehensive about leaving their children for several days. However, over time, trust was built, and both children and parents began to see the long-term benefits of this immersive approach. “If a child has been supported over a couple of years so that disruptive behaviors or aggression in daily life are no longer present or are significantly reduced, it gives us the understanding that such services are needed,” Liina reflects. Unfortunately, due to the unstable funding model and the eventual exhaustion of EU funding, the program ended in 2024.
Despite this setback, Liina views the initiative as a success story. “It earned us annual awards for successful activity, positive attention from the business sector, parents, and experts in the field,” she says proudly. This innovative approach to rehabilitation has demonstrated that immersive, cross-disciplinary support can create lasting change in children’s lives.
The Role of Technology in Rehabilitation
The integration of technology has also played a significant role in the work of Early Inclusion Center. Liina emphasizes how the organization quickly adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consultations and services online within just a week. “We no longer know how to operate without hybrid meetings, online sessions, and webinars,” she admits. This flexibility has allowed the center to continue providing valuable support to families, regardless of physical limitations.
In addition to embracing digital platforms, Early Inclusion Center has long been committed to a paperless, streamlined approach to its operations. “We have always been quite innovative and have been using a paperless approach for years,” Liina shares. This shift not only increases efficiency but also ensures that all documents and processes are securely stored in cloud systems, providing easy access and organization.
Collaborations and Partnerships for Sustainable Impact
“Our main partners are state social systems, local governments, schools, and kindergartens,” she explains. These partnerships are essential, as the majority of the center’s clients are children who will require support throughout their lives. As Liina explains, “We need partnerships both for funding and for negotiating the substantive goals.”
Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration and communication. “The clearer the goals are set and the expectations discussed, the more precise the outcome,” she affirms. Liina’s approach is rooted in Deming’s quality management model—plan, do, check, and act—which guides her team in making continuous improvements to services and operations.
A Personalized Approach to Rehabilitation
At Early Inclusion Center, the needs and preferences of clients are always prioritized. Liina notes, “Putting the client’s needs at the forefront is a key component of all these values.” This focus on the individual is woven into the fabric of the center’s work, with regular team discussions on how to best serve each child and their family. She encourages her team to always consider the child’s needs first, setting aside external pressures and focusing on what’s best for the child’s development.
“We try to think: ‘Set aside all the surrounding noise for a moment and think about what this child needs?’” Liina shares. This client-centered approach is essential to ensuring that the center’s services are not only effective but also meaningful and impactful for each child.
A Future of Possibilities
Looking to the future, Liina is optimistic about the continued growth of Early Inclusion Center and the impact it will have on families across Estonia. Over the past five years, hundreds of specialists and teachers have been trained to work with children with intellectual disabilities or mental disorders in kindergartens or schools close to home. Thanks to the rapid advancements in neuroscience, there are many new evidence-based approaches to supporting the development of children with intellectual disabilities and mental disorders. We can be the specialists who quickly bring this knowledge to families and teachers.
In the same time it is now crucial to understand the changes planned by the government, as the healthcare system will not be able to ensure support for all families in the future. Many families do not need clinical assistance but rather ongoing practice of everyday skills to make children’s lives as independent as possible and to prevent further increases in the caregiving burden on parents and siblings.
By expanding its reach and continuing to innovate, Early Inclusion Center will continue to provide essential rehabilitation and support to children and families facing developmental challenges.
Liina’s work exemplifies what it means to be a leader in rehabilitation: someone who listens, adapts, and advocates for the betterment of every child and family they serve. Her journey, fueled by personal experience, continues to inspire others, proving that with dedication, vision, and collaboration, the future of rehabilitation is filled with endless possibilities.