Doctors Predicted His Future. He Rewrote His Story. | Chris Stigas

What happens when everything you imagined for your future changes overnight? In 2014, Chris Stigas experienced a life-altering accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. Doctors gave him a difficult prognosis, but Chris was determined not to let his accident become the only thing that defined his life. Today, Chris is an entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, and advocate for creating a more inclusive world. Through his work with Handy Help, Handicup, and accessibility consulting, he's transforming his personal experiences into practical solutions that help others. In this episode of Out of Office (OOO), Lauren Shirreffs sits down with longtime friend Chris Stigas for an honest, heartfelt conversation about life after a spinal cord injury, overcoming adversity, building a business, and finding purpose when life takes an unexpected turn. In this episode, we explore: The accident that changed Chris's life in 2014 His recovery journey and the importance of family and community Why he refused to let his injury define his legacy How Rick Hansen helped influence his journey into accessibility advocacy Building an accessibility consulting business and developing the Handicup The lessons he's learned about gratitude, resilience, and personal growth Why waiting for the perfect moment can mean missing out on life Chris reminds us that while we can't always control what happens to us, we can still make meaningful choices about what comes next. ABOUT OUT OF OFFICE (OOO) Hosted by Lauren Shirreffs, Out of Office is a conversation series exploring the people, experiences, challenges, and perspectives that shape who we are beyond our work and everyday routines. Real conversations. Different perspectives. Life beyond the job title. ABOUT CHRIS STIGAS Chris Stigas is an entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, and advocate dedicated to creating more inclusive and accessible spaces. Following a life-altering spinal cord injury in 2014, Chris combined his lived experience with his background in construction to build businesses focused on improving accessibility and independence. As the founder of HandiHelp and creator of the Handicup, Chris continues to champion innovation, resilience, and the importance of living life on your own terms. www.handihelp.ca www.instagram.com/handihelp) Episode Chapters 00:00 — Reconnecting after 20 years 01:42 — The accident that changed everything 04:24 — Life after a spinal cord injury 06:38 — Refusing to be defined by an accident 08:03 — Why you shouldn't wait for tomorrow 08:50 — How Rick Hansen changed his journey 11:17 — Building a career in accessibility 13:42 — Creating the Handicup 17:04 — Life, gratitude, and perspective 18:06 — What Chris would tell someone facing adversity 19:34 — The Rick Hansen Foundation and giving back 21:03 — Life outside of work If this conversation resonates with you, like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Out of Office. #OutOfOffice #ChrisStigas #SpinalCordInjury