More than 30,000 Marylanders have added a voluntary butterfly symbol to their driver’s license or identification card during the first year of Eric’s ID Law, which is designed to alert law enforcement and first responders that a person may have a hidden or non-apparent disability.
The law took effect October 1, 2025, and allows Marylanders with disabilities that may not be immediately visible, including developmental and intellectual disabilities, to request the butterfly designation without providing supporting documentation. The symbol is intended to indicate that the individual may have communication challenges or require additional understanding or accommodations during an interaction.
The law was inspired by Maryland autism advocate Eric Carpenter-Grantham and his mother, Linda Carpenter-Grantham, following concerns about how people with hidden disabilities may be misunderstood during interactions with law enforcement and first responders.
The designation is voluntary and can be added or removed for free through a myMVA account, at a 24/7 MVA self-service kiosk or during an appointment at an MVA branch. Standard fees still apply when the designation is added as part of another transaction that normally carries a fee, such as a license renewal.
With the law marking its first anniversary, Carpenter-Grantham and his family are working to encourage other states to adopt similar legislation and expand the concept nationwide.
