SILVER SPRING, Md. (DC News Now) — Maryland licenses and IDs may soon feature butterflies for those with hidden disabilities.
This comes after a Silver Spring man with autism and his mother successfully pushed the General Assembly to pass “Eric’s ID Law.”
The law will allow people to voluntarily opt in to feature a butterfly symbol on their identification in order to communicate that they have a hidden disability.
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“The butterfly represents hope, peace, freedom and change,” said Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a man with autism who helped create the bill. “Inside the wings is the colors that represent all hidden disabilities.”
The butterfly is a symbol that Carpenter-Grantham hopes will help those with autism, mental health issues and developmental disabilities.
“Some people do not know that people with autism don’t like looking at you,” he explained. [People have] sensory issues — they do not like to be touched — and they don’t like loud noises.”
Carpenter-Grantham said these things can be misinterpreted by others — especially in high-stress situations, like interactions with law enforcement.
“When Mr. George Floyd was killed in 2020, I realize then … I have an African American son whom I am very afraid for being stopped by law enforcement,” said Linda Carpenter-Grantham, Eric’s mother.
She instructed her son about what to do and not to do when interacting with police.
“I told him, put your hands up, don’t reach for your phone — that could become very dangerous. Yell out ‘I have Autism,’” she said.
She said that her son started to cry and said he was worried about his friends who have autism being shot by police.
That’s when Eric Carpenter-Grantham came up with an idea to help others like him.
Linda Carpenter-Grantham recalled her son saying they should put something on IDs and driver’s licenses so that police know who might have autism.
“I said, ‘That’s a great idea,’” she said.
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For two years, they fought for Eric’s ID Law.
It finally passed the Maryland General Assembly last month.
“I feel like it’s going to change the world,” said Eric. “I feel like it’s going to help law enforcement, help first responders. It’s going to help a lot of people.”
Montgomery County Police said it welcomes all opportunities that may help officers better interact with members of the community.
Meanwhile, the bill is awaiting Gov. Wes Moore’s signature and the mother-son duo are working to pass Eric’s ID Law across the country.
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