BLIND OPTIMISM
BLIND OPTIMISM
How Anthony Ferraro inspired us to make out first "Life is Good" tee — in braille.
How Anthony Ferraro inspired us to make out first "Life is Good" tee — in braille.
"Life can be anything. But it's ultimately good."
Maybe you know Anthony Ferraro. Sometime between gaining over a million followers, joining Team USA for Olympic judo, becoming an internationally-known skateboarder, and having a documentary made about his life, Anthony's cavalcade of accolades became almost unmanagable to recite (don't get us started on his guitar playing).
"Life can be anything. But it's ultimately good."
Maybe you know Anthony Ferraro. Sometime between gaining over a million followers, joining Team USA for Olympic judo, becoming an internationally-known skateboarder, and having a documentary made about his life, Anthony's cavalcade of accolades became almost unmanagable to recite (don't get us started on his guitar playing).
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Anthony was born blind, the result of a genetic condition called Leber congenital amaurosis (or LCA). As a high school wrestler, he began to attract attention as the kid who couldn't stop winning against his sighted peers. But this was just the beginning of his journey through the highs and lows that would define his young life.
At 19, Anthony lost his brother Oliver to an unexpected overdose. Only a few months later, his mother suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall. But after a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign enabled the completion of a documentary about his wrestling career, Anthony got a phone call. From the U.S. Paralympic committee. Asking him to give judo a try.
Anthony was born blind, the result of a genetic condition called Leber congenital amaurosis (or LCA). As a high school wrestler, he began to attract attention as the kid who couldn't stop winning against his sighted peers. But this was just the beginning of his journey through the highs and lows that would define his young life.
At 19, Anthony lost his brother Oliver to an unexpected overdose. Only a few months later, his mother suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall. But after a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign enabled the completion of a documentary about his wrestling career, Anthony got a phone call. From the U.S. Paralympic committee. Asking him to give judo a try.
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LIG: After a torn ACL, you ended up not being able to participate in judo at the Paris Games, which I know was a difficult setback. Do you have a new philosophy as we head toward the US edition in 2028?
AF: While it was heartbreaking to not be able to go to the games for judo, life brought me to the Paris Games for skateboarding — and I was able to do a demo there at the Olympics. It was an incredible moment that has only made me work harder towards attending the Paralympic Games in judo for 2028.
Anthony recently visited the Life is Good factory in Hudson, NH. With his guidance, we collaborated on a brand new tee — our first ever braille t-shirt. To create a raised, textured surface for braille characters, we utilized our embroidery machines, stitching the words "Life is Good" directly onto the shirt in an easy-to-touch location.
The tee is the culmination of a relationship between Anthony and Life is Good that started long before viral fame, before judo. Before we'd ever heard of him.
LIG: After a torn ACL, you ended up not being able to participate in judo at the Paris Games, which I know was a difficult setback. Do you have a new philosophy as we head toward the US edition in 2028?
AF: While it was heartbreaking to not be able to go to the games for judo, life brought me to the Paris Games for skateboarding — and I was able to do a demo there at the Olympics. It was an incredible moment that has only made me work harder towards attending the Paralympic Games in judo for 2028.
Anthony recently visited the Life is Good factory in Hudson, NH. With his guidance, we collaborated on a brand new tee — our first ever braille t-shirt. To create a raised, textured surface for braille characters, we utilized our embroidery machines, stitching the words "Life is Good" directly onto the shirt in an easy-to-touch location.
The tee is the culmination of a relationship between Anthony and Life is Good that started long before viral fame, before judo. Before we'd ever heard of him.
After Anthony's brother Oliver passed away, Anthony found an old t-shirt of his — a Life is Good shirt. The piece became a symbol for Anthony. A reminder to keep pushing.
AF: I feel him in every fiber of this shirt. Every time I wear it.
When we found out about the deep connection Anthony had with this tee, it sparked a years-long relationship, and eventually led us to the creation of this brand new braille tee.
Anthony's been reading braille since he was a kid. Now, with his large following, he advocates for braille literacy, posting videos about braille technologies and giving keynotes at events like the Braille Challenge.
LIG: As a sighted person who works as a writer, I find myself enjoying the letter L. Do you have a personal favorite braille character?
AF: I love the letter Y [editor's note: that's the braille character for Y.]
For his visit, we asked Anthony to bring his skateboard to show us a thing or two — but that wasn't all he brought. Anthony was accompanied by his wife, Kelly, and the pair's adorable daughter. LIG: You and Kelly have such a special love story (and a special daughter). What has being in love changed about the way you experience the world around you?
AF: It’s given me hope that anything is possible. When I was younger, I was scared my blindness would scare any love away from me, and I would never get to have a family. Every day, I wake up and I still can’t see. But I have everything I have ever dreamed of in life when I hear their voices and feel their hugs.
After Anthony's brother Oliver passed away, Anthony found an old t-shirt of his — a Life is Good shirt. The piece became a symbol for Anthony. A reminder to keep pushing.
AF: I feel him in every fiber of this shirt. Every time I wear it.
When we found out about the deep connection Anthony had with this tee, it sparked a years-long relationship, and eventually led us to the creation of this brand new braille tee.
Anthony's been reading braille since he was a kid. Now, with his large following, he advocates for braille literacy, posting videos about braille technologies and giving keynotes at events like the Braille Challenge.
LIG: As a sighted person who works as a writer, I find myself enjoying the letter L. Do you have a personal favorite braille character?
AF: I love the letter Y [editor's note: that's the braille character for Y.]
For his visit, we asked Anthony to bring his skateboard to show us a thing or two — but that wasn't all he brought. Anthony was accompanied by his wife, Kelly, and the pair's adorable daughter. LIG: You and Kelly have such a special love story (and a special daughter). What has being in love changed about the way you experience the world around you?
AF: It’s given me hope that anything is possible. When I was younger, I was scared my blindness would scare any love away from me, and I would never get to have a family. Every day, I wake up and I still can’t see. But I have everything I have ever dreamed of in life when I hear their voices and feel their hugs.
