Bring Eric’s ID Law to Your State: Free Advocacy Action Guide

Want to bring a policy like Maryland’s Eric’s ID Law to your state? This free toolkit will help you get started.

Maryland’s Eric’s ID Law allows people with nonapparent developmental and intellectual disabilities to voluntarily add a discrete butterfly symbol to their driver’s license or state ID. The designation is designed to give law enforcement and first responders important context when a disability may not be immediately visible.

Now, families, self-advocates and disability organizations in other states can use Maryland’s model to begin conversations with their own lawmakers.

This free advocacy toolkit from The Spectrum Dispatch gives you practical, ready-to-use resources to move from learning about the law to organizing in your own community.

The toolkit includes:

• A step-by-step guide for getting started in your state

• Key provisions and protections to consider in proposed legislation

• A sample letter to send to your state senator or representative

• A sample email for recruiting families, self-advocates and community partners

• A ready-to-use social media post for building local support

• Guidance for creating a coalition around the issue

• Important considerations involving privacy, autonomy and the involvement of disabled people in shaping the policy

You don’t need lobbying experience to start a legislative conversation. Many policy ideas begin when a constituent identifies a problem, brings lawmakers a possible solution and finds other people willing to join the conversation.

Download the toolkit for free, customize the templates for your state and start building support in your community.



For educational and advocacy purposes only. This resource does not constitute legal advice.