Maryland’s new ID law helps identify people with hidden disabilities

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – People in Maryland can now opt to have a butterfly symbol put on their license or ID to communicate that they have a non-apparent disability.

For Linda Carpenter-Grantham and her son Eric, who has autism, they say this is a big step toward creating understanding and keeping people with disabilities safe.

Dozens of community members, along with many local and state officials, gathered at the White Oak Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) on Wednesday morning to celebrate Maryland’s newest ID law.

“We are super grateful to God for allowing all doors to open for this law,” Carpenter-Grantham said.

The legislation, known as Eric’s ID Law, is named after Carpenter-Grantham’s 20-year-old autistic son.

“Today is a beautiful day,” Eric said.

Eric first thought of the idea for the bill in 2020, following a conversation with his mom about the death of George Floyd.

“My mother felt [that] if I ever was stopped by law enforcement,” he said, “I may not be able to respond in the manner that the police would expect. God has blessed me to create a special logo to be placed on IDs.”

That special logo is a butterfly that people can have put on their license or ID to show that they have a disability.

“Like autism,” Eric said, “mental health, hearing impaired, and all hidden disabilities.”

Carpenter-Grantham and Eric say the symbol will be helpful, especially when interacting with law enforcement.

“It is a law for all people,” Carpenter-Grantham said, “to save all lives for people with invisible disabilities.”

“Eric’s ID Law is indeed to help police officers and the public to better understand the needs of citizens with invisible disabilities,” Eric said. “I want to let the disability community know that this law was created for you and for me to feel safe and have a voice.”

People can now request to have the butterfly symbol put on their license or ID at any MVA in the state of Maryland.