Eric's ID Law
25,000 Marylanders have requested the butterfly

One symbol. A national promise.

The symbol that speaks.

“We wrote a law so my friends could live.” Eric Carpenter-Grantham
Sign the petition Hear the story

A butterfly on a Maryland ID can signal a hidden disability to first responders.

Seen, heard, and moving the conversation

  • The View
  • AFRO
  • WMAR-2
  • WJLA ABC7
  • Maryland Matters
  • Bethesda Magazine
  • Capital News Service
  • Maryland MVA

Latest from the movement

In the news

All coverage →

Act I · The origin

A prayer became a butterfly — and changed a law.

After George Floyd was murdered, Eric cried — not for himself, but for friends on the spectrum whose reactions to a traffic stop might be misread. “We gotta do something now,” he told his mother. He prayed on the symbol. They considered a star. Then Eric chose the butterfly — for hope, peace, freedom and change.

“The Butterfly represents Hope, Peace, Freedom and Change.”
Read Eric & Linda's story
Eric and Linda smiling together, Linda wearing a vivid multicolor patchwork blazer.
Mother, son, co-authors of a movement.
“The best mom and son duo ever.”
01 · Born in color

Every wing included

The butterfly began in the colors of the awareness ribbon—colors for all hidden disabilities.

02 · Made black

Clear on the ID

Maryland required the butterfly to be black on the license, making the symbol unmistakable.

03 · Carried in blue

Calmness and acceptance

Royal blue honors Eric's late father and carries the calmness and acceptance of autism-ribbon blue.

Act II · The road to 50

1 state down. 49 to go.

Maryland showed what is possible. Eric and Linda are forming a nonprofit to carry the butterfly to every state.

25,000 Marylanders have requested the butterfly · July 2026

Maryland

Law
Bill
HB 707
Signed
May 13, 2025
First IDs
October 1, 2025

Delaware

In committee
Bill
HB 280
Filed
January 2026
Status
In committee

DC

In motion
Bill
B26-0619
Hearing
June 4, 2026
Status
Bill in motion

New York

In committee
Bill
A1549-A / S6396-A
Introduced
January 2025
Status
In committee

Their rallying cry

HOPE. PEACE. FREEDOM. CHANGE.

“The colors inside the wings represent the colors for ALL HIDDEN DISABILITIES!” Eric Carpenter-Grantham

Finale · Your part

Help take the butterfly nationwide.

One Maryland law became a sign of hope, peace, freedom, and change. Choose how you will help move the next state.

The first step

Sign the petition

Add your name to the movement for a butterfly ID in every state.

Add your name

Fuel the work

Donate

Support the work of bringing the law, the story, and the symbol nationwide.

Make a gift

Open the door

Bring it to your state

Start the conversation with leaders, families, and first responders where you live.

Get started