Anthony Ferraro

Early Life

Anthony Ferraro grew up in a small beach community surrounded by his tight‑knit family. The youngest of five children, he was the only one born blind, later diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis. With older siblings and sixty‑five cousins around him, he says he was never treated differently. “I grew up skateboarding, surfing, and riding bikes…until I started hitting parked cars,” he recalls. Over time, his limited childhood vision gradually deteriorated.

When his local public school only offered two hours of braille instruction per week—not near enough to become literate—his parents searched for better options. He and his mother eventually moved so he could attend St. Lucy’s Day School for the Blind in Philadelphia, where he remained through sixth grade.

Ferraro transferred to public school in seventh grade and began wrestling. At first, he struggled, but after training intensely and joining wrestling clubs, he won the eighth‑grade championship against sighted competitors. Although he had always wrestled sighted athletes using the required two‑hand touch start, he was suddenly accused of having an unfair advantage and told he didn’t belong in the sport.

Around the same time, a private school his brothers attended rescinded his acceptance for eighth grade, unwilling to provide accommodations. “It was a big turning point,” Ferraro said. “Just being a kid who wanted to fit in, but realizing the world isn’t always fair and that I couldn’t attend school somewhere because of something I couldn’t control.” Another private school later reached out after hearing about his wrestling talent, and he went on to earn 122 wins with only 19 losses in high school. “You can sit at home and avoid the world, or you can keep moving forward,” said Ferraro. “Forgive, don’t hold a grudge, and take the first step.”

Career

In 2013, his older brother, Oliver, filmed him talking about growing up blind and wrestling. Independent filmmaker Chris Suchorski soon joined the project, documenting Ferraro’s entire senior year. The project was put on hold until 2015, when, just after Suchorski had completed the first ten minutes, Oliver passed away unexpectedly at age 27—a devastating loss for Ferraro and his family. Determined to honor Oliver, Suchorski finished the film, and A Shot in the Dark went on to screen at festivals worldwide, winning numerous awards.

After the documentary’s release, Ferraro received a call from the United States Paralympic Committee inviting him to train in Judo for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. He began training immediately, though the pandemic delayed the Games. During that period, Ferraro also found joy in music. He and his girlfriend, now wife, created Anthony Ferraro’s Blind Busking Tour, traveling from New Jersey to California and back. Over thousands of miles in seven weeks, he played music in remote locations, livestreaming to spread positivity. In 2024, he performed adaptive skateboarding demonstrations at the Paris Olympic Games.

Upon returning home, Ferraro began sharing his life on TikTok, highlighting how he navigates the world as a blind person. One of his most viral stories featured his wife’s tactile wedding dress, specially designed so he could feel its intricate detail. In 2023, their daughter was born, and Ferraro began sharing his experiences as a blind father raising a sighted child. His wife now works with him full‑time, managing the business, filming, and editing. “We just share our life and try to inspire others,” he said. “Pretty much anything is possible with determination and hard work.”

The Dot Experience

Having received braille textbooks from the American Printing House (APH) throughout his education, Ferraro is honored to be part of The Dot Experience. He hopes the exhibit encourages people to push past limitations and keep trying. A strong advocate for braille, Ferraro recently collaborated with a guitar company in England to create amplifiers with braille across the entire panel. “I’m trying to make any small change in the world that I can.” He is especially excited that one day his daughter may bring her own children to The Dot Experience—continuing the legacy he helped build.

Ferraro is currently training in Judo for the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles while continuing to skateboard, write music, and speak publicly. He and his wife recently bought a home, where they live with their daughter and Delta, his task‑trained service dog.

To keep up with Anthony and what he is up to next, follow him on Instagram or visit his website.