New symbol for Maryland IDs can alert police to hidden disabilities as Eric's Law takes effect
Maryland transportation officials unveiled a new symbol on Wednesday that can be voluntarily added to driver's licenses and ID cards to identify residents with hidden disabilities.
The butterfly designation is being rolled out across the state under Eric's Law, a bill that was proposed by a Maryland family. The law went into effect on October 1.
The symbol was unveiled Wednesday by the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
What does Eric's Law do?
Under Eric's Law, Maryland residents who have developmental or intellectual disabilities can add the butterfly symbol to their driver's license, ID card or moped permit.
The symbol can be used to alert first responders or law enforcement to a person's hidden disability and improve communication in those situations.
The law prohibits the MVA from sharing information about an applicant's disabilities and prevents the agency from asking for proof of a disability.
The law also orders State Police and the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to train their ranks how to interact with people who have the butterfly symbol on their ID.
The law aims to promote safety and understanding while protecting a resident's privacy.
Why Eric's Law was introduced
A Maryland family, the Carpenter-Granthams, had the idea for Eric's Law after the 2020 murder of George Floyd sparked protests across the U.S. Eric Carpenter-Grantham lives with high-functioning autism.
"When Mr. George Floyd died, my mom had a conversation with me about being safe," Eric Carpenter-Grantham said on Wednesday. "I told my mom what to do. But my friends who have autism like me in different ways will not always know how to communicate with the officer. They probably will run, probably be scared of the guns tasing at them, probably be scared for their life. The police will probably yell and scream at them, but they will not know they have a disability."
The family advocated for the law to be introduced in the Maryland Senate in 2024, though it missed a deadline and did not pass until the 2025 legislative session.
"The officer knows before they even go any further, to approach this person from a different perspective of this situation, not escalating," said Linda Carpenter-Grantham. "That's what we pray for."
According to the Autism Ally Group, the symbol will improve self-advocacy, community safety and inclusivity.
"If you're a parent, you know how important it is for them just to be able to show something that will be helpful to do that," said Autism Ally Group CEO Ike Ogbuebile.
Prince George's County law enforcement officials said they are in support of the new law.
"The butterfly is just a symbol of what you deserve as citizens in our community," said Prince George's County Sheriff John Carr. "That's service, that's respect, that's empathy, that's being there for you in a critical moment in time."
What is a hidden disability
According to the legislation, a hidden or "nonapparent" disability is one that is not obvious or visible.
Common "nonapparent" disabilities include anxiety, autism, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Alzheimer's, among others, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
