Tony Ferraiolo is internationally known as a compassionate and empowering Life Coach who has earned his reputation as a thought-provoking and motivational speaker and trainer. Since 2005, Tony has worked with individuals, groups, and educational institutions to reach thousands of people worldwide. In 2008, he was the founder of multiple support groups for transgender and nonbinary youth and their families. The work Tony does has allowed him to see firsthand how children’s lives are transformed from hopelessness to hopefulness through the process of simply affirming their gender, and he has witnessed firsthand the positive impact that this has on them and their families.

He is the subject of the award-winning documentary A Self-Made Man and the author of the book series Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth. He is the co-founder of the Jim Collins Foundation where he held the position of president of the board for ten years.

Tony's advocacy work is done through his position as the Director of Youth and Family Programming at Health Care Advocates International out of Stratford CT.

 

Keynote Speaking, Trainings and Workshops

Keynote Speaking Engagements
2023 Southern CT State University, New Haven, CT
2023 Drexel University Philadelphia , PA.
2023 Jefferson Health, Philadelphia , PA.
2023 Three Rivers Community College, New London, CT.
2022 Kid Safe Ct, Rockville CT.
2022 University of Hartford, Hartford CT.
2022 Franklin Pierce University, Ringe NH.
2022 Girl Scouts Camp Laurel, Lebanon, CT
2022 F.L.O.W. Wellness Center, Abington, PA
2022 Yale Child Study Center Grand Rounds, New Haven CT.
2022 Litchfield Cavo, LLP Simsbury CT.
2022 Copper Beach Institute, West Hartford, CT
2022 United Church of Christ, Madison CT.
2022 First Church of Windsor, Windsor CT
2021 Black and Decker International
2021 NBC Universal
2021 Viking Global
2021 Daifuku America
2021 Project Courage
2021 Town of Avon, CT
2019 Next Street Driving School
2019 Yale New Haven PA Program
2019 Bridgeport Hospital Urology Department
2019 East Haven High School
2018 Yale New Haven Health, Lets Talk Event
2018 Compassionate Conversation Event, Middlesex Community College
2018 Wallingford Library
2018 Guilford Library
2018 Three Rivers Community College
2018 True Colors Queer Academy
2017 PFLAG Norwalk, Connecticut
2017 Drexel University Fashion and Media Conference
2016 Grand Rounds Zucker Hill Hospital
2016 PFLAG Concord New Hampshire
2015 Herkimer College
2014 Institute of Living, From Patient to Professional
2014 LGBTQ Behavioral Health Conference
2014 Connecticut Trans Advocacy Coalition
2013 Southern Connecticut State University APRN Program
2013 Connecticut Hospital Association
2012 Eastern Connecticut State University

Workshops / Training
2023 Yale PA Program, New Haven, CT.
2023 Reflections Counseling Center, Wethersfield, CT.
2023 Nuvance Health Norwalk Hospital Surgical Staff, Norwalk, CT
2023 Fairfield Community Health, New Haven, CT.
2023 CT Childrens Hospital APRN Program, Hartford, CT.
2023 The Connecticut Women’s Consortium, Hamden, CT.
2023 Turnbridge, New Haven, CT.
2022 Child Health and Development Institute CT
2022 East Lyme CT School District
2022 Fairfield CT. School District
2022 Wallingford School District
2022 Lyme Ct School District
2022 New Haven CT Schools District
2022 The Wheeler Clinic, CT
2022 Clifford Beers Clinic, CT
2021 Milford, CT Police Academy
2021 LEARN
2021 East Hampton, CT Public Schools
2021 Clinton, CT PTA
2021 Fairfield, CT Public Schools
2021 East Hampton, CT Public Schools
2021 Guilford Center for Children
2021 Guilford CT, Public Schools
2021 Plainfield Public Schools
2020 Reed Intermediate School, Newtown, CT
2020 Arch Bridge School, Bethlehem , CT
2020 The Foote School, New Haven, CT
2020 NHSEA Conference, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
2019 Yale New Haven Health Diversity Summit
2019 New Hampshire Assoc. of Special Education Administrators
2019 American Assoc. of Healthcare Administration Management, Connecticut Chapter
2019 Yale New Haven Health Medical Records Department
2019 The Foote School, New Haven
2019 Reginal 15 School District, CT
2019 Reed Intermediate School, Newtown
2019 Thomas Edison Magnet School, Meriden CT
2019 Jerome Harrison, North Branford, CT
2019 Hamden School District, Hamden CT
2019 Foran Academy, Milford CT
2019 Branford Middle School, Branford CT
2019 Capitol Region Education Council, Hartford CT
2019 Continuum Care, New Haven
2019 Milford, CT School District
2018 Branford, CT School District
2018 Connecticut APRN Conference
2018 Franklin Pierce University
2018 Presbyterian Promise, Hartford CT.
2018 Watkins School, Hartford CT.
2017 Kent School
2017 Durham School District
2017 Natchaug Hospital
2017 Perception House, Willimantic CT.
2016 Wethersfield School District
2016 Winsted School District
2016 Yale New Haven Hospital
2016 Northeast Medical Groups
2015 North Branford High School
2015 Yale, American Psychiatric Association
2015 Yale School of Medicine
2014 From Fear to Acceptance
2014 Baker & Botts LLP
2013 Hartford Children's Hospital, Trans 101
2013 Hartford Children's Hospital, “Caring for your transgender patient.”

Publications

2021 Contributing Author for the Publish Your Purpose Publication “The Real Lives of Transgender and Nonbinary Humans"
2015  Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth, Volume 1
2018  Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth, Volume 2
2020  Contributing Author, Springer Publication "Pediatric Gender Identity" Overview and Terminology

Consulting

2021-Present- LGBTQ Cultural Competency consultant for Nuvance Health
2021-Present- LGBTQ Cultural Competency Trainer for Jefferson Health
2020-Present- LGBTQ Cultural Competency trainer for Yale New Haven Health

Recognition

Media Appearances
2023 WTNH, Transgender Youth
2019 Fox 61 Connecticut “transgender athletes”
2018 WTNH, Transgender Youth
2017 Providence Town Magazine
2016 Critical Studies in Men’s Fashion, Featured Article
2016 JAACAP Book Review Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth
2016 WNHH Out & About Radio Show
2015 NEXT Magazine
2015 WKTV Utica NY
2014 Zip06, Meet a 'Self-Made Man'
2014 WNPR, All Things Considered
2014 Mark My Words! Life Coach Radio Network
2013 The New Yorker, "About a Boy"
2013 Hartford Courant, "New Haven Transgender Advocate the Subject of "A Self-Made Man" film.
2013 New Haven Register, "Fraternity Aims to Help Friend. Ends up helping other Transgender People."
2012 PBS In the Life Media, “Becoming Me,” video

Awards
2012 Champion of Change (White House) - Nominated (video)
2012 Lambda Legal, Connecticut Cares Award
2011 UCONN Lavender Award, Most Inspirational Speaker
2011 New Haven Pride Center, Dorothy Award
2010 True Colors, Hero Award

Advocacy

Advocacy for Transgender Youth and Families
2012 The Sibling Group: Support for siblings of transgender and gender non-conforming children
2009 TransPACT: Support for parents of transgender and gender non-conforming children
2009 Create Yourself: Art group for gender non-conforming children under the age of 12
2009 Binder Drive: Fund raising for free chest binders for transgender teens and adults.
2008 Translation: Support for transgender teenagers

Advocacy for Transgender Adults
2008 Jim Collins Foundation, Co Founder: Support and fund raising for gender-confirming surgeries

Additional Experience

Director of Youth and Family Programming for Health Care Advocates International out of Stratford, CT

Additionally, Tony is the Co-Founder of the Jim Collins Foundation an organization that raises money to fund gender-confirming surgeries for the transgender community. Tony has dedicated himself to promoting competent and respectful health care for the transgender community, educating providers and advocating on behalf of patients.