Lotus Disability was born not in a boardroom, but in the most unexpected and life-altering of circumstances.

We’re Emily and Cristina—prior to co-founding Lotus Disability, we led People Operations, shaping workplace culture and employee experiences at major organizations. Then, on a family vacation, everything changed. Emily suffered a tragic fall, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Suddenly, we weren’t just guiding others through crisis—we were living it, searching for answers and support in a system that wasn’t built for us.

Medflighted to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Emily would spend the next 3.5 months in inpatient rehab, while we prepared our house for a completely new reality — one where independence would need to be rebuilt from the ground up.

While Emily worked through intensive therapy, Cristina juggled two full-time jobs: her demanding corporate role and the unpaid, unrelenting role of caregiver. She took work calls from the hospital room, swapped overnight shifts with Emily’s father, while keeping things as normal as possible for our young son — all during the isolation of COVID, when outside support was nearly nonexistent.

Inside the Shepherd Center, we had a team of experts guiding our every step. But once we left, we were on our own — navigating complex care, endless bills, conflicting medical advice, and an overwhelming amount of uncertainty. Emily was adjusting to life as a mom in a wheelchair, while Cristina had no support as a caregiver. With each passing day, the emotional and financial strain grew heavier.

Employees living with disabilities, caregivers carrying impossible loads, and families searching for hope and guidance—all left to face their hardest days alone. There had to be a better way—not just for our family but for the millions of families going through a similar journey. And yet, every time we looked for help, we were met with blank stares and dead ends. It wasn’t a lack of empathy but a lack of understanding, a lack of structure. A system that simply wasn’t built with people like us in mind. 

That’s why we created Lotus Disability.

Born from lived experience, our mission is to transform how individuals and families are supported through disability — at work, at home, and in every moment in between.

We know most companies want to support their employees, but the reality is: until you’ve lived it, it’s hard to understand the full scope of what disability — or caregiving — really demands.

We help employers support the whole employee — whether they’re living with a disability or caring for someone who is — so no one has to suffer in silence. We believe care should be human, proactive, and accessible. And we’re here to make that a reality, one workplace at a time.