Fletcher Cleaves | 2015 Alumni
Being a quadriplegic is not slowing Fletcher Cleaves down.
As Cleaves says, “Where there is a wheel, there is a way.”
The University of Memphis Computer Science alumnus’ journey is one of overcoming tragedy and turning that into triumph.
Among his triumphs is being a voice and an advocate of the hazards of distracted driving. It was due to a distracted driver who was suspected of texting, that caused Cleaves’ life to forever change in 2009.
A tragic car accident left Cleaves paralyzed from the chest down.
At the time, Cleaves — a native Memphian who was a star athlete and football player from Cordova High School — just started his journey as a freshman collegiate athlete at then Lambuth University on scholarship.
After the accident, Cleaves’ life was turned upside down. He went from being a normal college student to needing full-time care. His father and mother moved with him to Atlanta so he could begin the process of rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center, among the top spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation centers in the country. He became a resident of Georgia living there for a year and a half.
“My parents and my supporters are definitely the reason why I’m as accessible as I am today,” Cleaves said. “They never allowed me to have a disability.”
He remembers vividly the first time he was able to sit up on his own in the hospital bed. “It’s crazy to think back and I couldn’t even sit up by myself and now I’m living by myself, now I’m driving and now I’m traveling the world,” he said.
After rehabilitation, Cleaves moved back to Memphis and decided to enroll at the University of Memphis to get his degree in Computer Science.
“I never wanted to leave anything unfinished,” he said. “I always thought of myself as a college graduate, so I didn’t want my wheelchair to stop me from accomplishing that goal, so even though my physical abilities changed, I still have my mental capabilities.”
His parent’s drove him back and forth to attend classes and he gained a community on campus joining Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
“My friends were always like, ‘Hey do you want to go to that party on campus, do you want to go to the Yard Show?’”
Cleaves graduated in 2015. Shortly after he interned at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and worked in corporate for eight years at Auto Zone, before he decided to become an entrepreneur and full-time motivational speaker. “God just ordained my steps,” he said.
Cleaves began speaking at high schools across Memphis and his speaking engagements just grew from there.
Now he is using his journey to bring his advocacy to the center stage through his organization, The Sky is NOT the Limit, speaking on the importance of resilience and community support, along with raising awareness on the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of accessibility. His advocacy has allowed him to appear on College Game Day, Sports Center and ESPN which Cleaves said was always a dream of his growing up as an athlete.
In 2023, Cleaves was invited to take the stage at a TEDx Talk, in which he presented on “The Dangers of the World’s Smallest Slot Machine” — a cell phone, which he compares to an addiction like gambling. A gamble from someone that caused him to forever use a wheelchair.
“I want to be remembered as a person that just never gave up on their hopes and their dreams and to inspire others to do the same,” Cleaves said.
“Life is going to throw us a curve ball one day, so it’s making sure that understanding that no matter what life throws at you, that you have the opportunity to make a better tomorrow than you did today.”
He is also highlighting his adventures traveling on his blog “The Wheelchair Nomad.”
The project spurred out of the outpouring of questions and comments Cleaves received from others with mobility and health issues after sharing a traveling experience he had to Jamaica. He wanted it to be a resource for others that traveling is indeed possible and to not let limitations stop you.
So far, Cleaves has gone sky diving, scuba diving with sharks and even ridden the world’s fastest roller coaster in Abu Dhabi.
Looking toward the future, Cleaves hopes to also get into acting. He is a firm believer that it’s not what happens to you that defines you, but how you respond.
“You may be going through an up or down, going through trials and tribulations at the moment, but understand that there’s always something to be thankful for.”
To follow Fletcher Cleaves’ journey visit: https://www.fletchercleaves.com
Fletcher’s Drive/Distracted Driving Story
Fletcher Cleaves commercial created by ESPN and AT&T.
