224 - Your Life Didn’t Go To Plan, Now What? with Fleur Bryant

In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron talks with Fleur Bryant, a wheelchair user, mother, author, and disability advocate, about finding possibility when life doesn’t go to plan. After losing her son Toby to a terminal brain disease, Fleur transformed grief into purpose, writing Never the Plan and founding The Make Way Foundation to help children access wheelchairs and build community. She shares lessons on redefining high performance, pursuing ambitious dreams, and moving forward without leaving loved ones behind. Plus, discover how asking questions, challenging assumptions, and making small changes can create meaningful disability inclusion for everyone.

Key Takeaways:

Choose Possibility — Instead of asking “What if?” and dwelling on how life could have been different, ask “What is possible?” and explore what you can do now.

Redefine Success — High performance is possible with a disability or other challenges. Focus on your own progress rather than comparing yourself with someone whose circumstances are different.

Move Forward — Grief doesn’t mean leaving loved ones behind. Find ways to carry their memory into new experiences, goals, and meaningful work.

Build Community — Surround yourself with people who understand your experiences, offer support without judgment, and help you move from surviving to thriving.

Ask, Don’t Assume — Every disabled person has different needs. Ask people what would help, involve them in decisions, and recognize that small changes can make a significant difference.

Fleur Bryant’s definition of inclusion:

inclusion is meeting people where they are, asking questions, listening, and making sure everyone has the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Fleur Bryant’s Bio:

Fleur Bryant is the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Never the Plan, founder of The Make Way Foundation, and a para endurance athlete.

Fleur has faced life not going to plan in more ways than most. She struggled physically from the age of five, spent decades with the wrong diagnosis and is now a full-time wheelchair user. But the biggest change came when her middle child, Toby, was diagnosed with a terminal brain disease at seven years old. He died 18 months later, aged nine.

Since then, Fleur has built The Make Way Foundation, helping disabled children access the equipment and opportunities they need to achieve their potential, written her memoir Never the Plan, and most recently completed a 33.3km open-water swimming challenge using only her arms.

Today, Fleur is fascinated by one question: when life looks nothing like the plan you started with, what is still possible?

Connect with Fleur Bryant:

Website: https://www.fleurbryant.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleur.bryant.1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleurbryant

Buy Her Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H44Z662Q

SPAM© Count:

Host:

Yes

Current Guest:

No

Cumulative Guest Stats:

Yes - 97

No - 125

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