By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Intern
In 2023, Linda Carpenter-Grantham and her son 20-year-old Eric Carpenter-Grantham were having the conversation Black families nationwide often have: what to do if stopped by law enforcement. But this version of the talk was different. There was an extra factor impacting Eric’s safety–his autism.
Although there is no database that captures how many people with disabilities have been killed by police, 2024 was the deadliest year for police violence on record, and Black people are killed at higher rates than any other race or ethnicity. This issue is compounded by the fact that Black people are less likely than White people to be diagnosed as having autism and other learning disabilities, according to a National Institutes of Health report. The combination makes police interactions even more tenuous for Black individuals who aren’t neurotypical.
Eric, who has high functioning autism, realized that some of his friends at different points on the neurodivergent spectrum may not be able to interact with the police in the same way he could. The flashing lights, the sounds of the sirens and being physically touched are all things that can cause sensory overload for individuals with autism. These sensitivities can cause them to panic, which can be dangerous when interacting with law enforcement.
“So many people with disabilities are getting hurt and harmed and killed out here by law enforcement,” said Eric. “The police are not understanding that this person is not doing wrong; it’s their disability.”
Out of concern for his friends and others like them, Eric was moved to action. He came up with the idea to put a logo on an ID to show that a person has an invisible disability, such as being hearing impaired or dealing with other mental health struggles. In prayer, as a believer in God, Eric and his mother sought guidance on which logo would best represent people with hidden disabilities.
“I searched up what the butterfly represents, and it actually represents hope, peace, freedom and change,” Eric said. “Then I searched up what colors represent all hidden disabilities, and that’s how the butterfly became a reality.”
As of Oct. 1, 2025, Eric and many others with hidden disabilities across the state will be able to have this designation on their identification cards. Additionally, according to the bill, “The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission in consultation with the department of state police and other interested stakeholders, shall implement training concerning interactions with individuals who have a non-apparent disability notation on their license, identification card, or moped operator’s permit.”
The victory, however, did not come easy, and could not have happened without the help of local politicians across the state. Both mother and son said that Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, D-District 20, and Del. Kym Taylor, D-District 23, were instrumental in the effort, especially when it came to addressing opposition toward the bill.
Wilkins, who represents the district that the Carpenter-Granthams live in, shared her gratitude and respect for the mother-son duo.
“I was grateful and honored to take on the bill, especially because it truly came from a full idea from constituents,” said Wilkins. “And that’s how our democracy and representation should work, that residents who have a problem, and especially have a solution, that we take it and help advocate for it and bring it to fruition.”
The issue is personal for Del. Taylor, as she has a son with autism. She shared that there were several issues presented by advocacy groups that were addressed.
“They understand the everyday challenges of this population of citizens, so they’re very protective. And that’s understandable and quite frankly it’s applauded,” said Taylor.
Some issues presented were privacy concerns and the rise of insurance rates. Wilkens and Taylor both spoke with the Maryland Insurance Administration and found that insurance rates would not be affected. As far as privacy, the designation is completely voluntary. If someone ever wants to remove the designation they can.
Linda Carpenter-Grantham had also worried that initial opposition to the legislation stemmed from lawmakers, who were not of color, not grasping the urgency of the issue. That is why the perspective of Black legislators proved so important, Taylor said.
“It’s that age old conversation that Black mothers have with the world, that we need to do extra to protect our sons. We have to have conversations that other races do not have to have with their sons. Other races might not feel that same sense of urgency and fear like we would,” she said. “Our voice matters in the conversation because we come from a different perspective.”
Overall, the Prince George’s County representative credited the Carpenter-Grantham family for their advocacy, and shared her excitement for the bill to become a national reality. She said, “It’s the magic of Eric and Linda.”
To see the Carpenter-Grantham’s petition to make Eric’s ID Law a nationwide program visit this link.
Great Job Victoria Mejicanos & the Team @ AFRO American Newspapers Source link for sharing this story.
