West Hartford To Unveil Community Mural Honoring Deaf History, Inclusion

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A yearlong community effort celebrating Deaf history, communication access and inclusion will culminate Monday, June 15, with the unveiling of a new public mural in West Hartford Center.

The mural, created through a collaboration among Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, families, educators and community members, will be installed on the Noah Webster Library wall along Webster Walk after receiving approval from the town.

The public is invited to attend the unveiling celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 15, at Webster Walk near Blue Back Square in West Hartford Center.

A rain date is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16.

The project is particularly significant in West Hartford, which is recognized as the birthplace of American Sign Language and home to the American School for the Deaf, the nation's first permanent school for Deaf students.

West Hartford Public Schools' Deaf Services Team commissioned local artist Michael Rice to design and paint the mural, which aims to celebrate the experiences and contributions of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Work on the mural began in late May and has drawn support from Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and hearing residents, according to organizers.

The project also received a matching grant from Sustainable Connecticut.

Local filmmaker Enrique Lebron has been documenting the mural's development, capturing the collaboration between students, educators, artists and community members throughout the process.

Organizers said a tactile component will be added in fall 2026 to ensure the mural is accessible to people with visual impairments and to further expand opportunities for community engagement.

The event will feature opportunities to meet the artists, project organizers and community partners, hear stories from community members and recognize those who helped make the mural possible. American Sign Language interpretation and accessibility services will be provided.

Luke Nowakowski-McDonald, a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with West Hartford Public Schools, said the project reflects a broad community effort to recognize the town's unique place in Deaf history while promoting accessibility and inclusion for future generations.