People with intellectual and developmental disabilities now have the option to get a special symbol on their Maryland ID cards or driver's licenses. It's part of an effort to improve their interactions with police and first responders who might not immediately realize they have challenges communicating.

Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a Silver Spring man who has autism, championed the idea and designed a prototype of a Maryland driver's license with a colorful butterfly that would alert authorities of a person's non-apparent disability.

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He was the first to get the special symbol on his license Wednesday, when Eric's ID Law took effect.

"My mother felt that if I ever be stopped by law enforcement, I may not be able to respond

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