Md. ID law is a good step (Published in The Washington Post, Oct. 15, 2025)

While Maryland’s new “Eric’s Law” marks progress for people with invisible disabilities, the state’s court system still demands deeper reform.

Regarding the Oct. 5 Metro article “Md. ID marker aims to defuse conflict”:

Maryland’s new “Eric’s Law,” which allows people with non-apparent disabilities to mark their driver’s licenses with a butterfly symbol to make law enforcement aware of their disability, is a welcome step toward ensuring people with disabilities retain their Americans With Disabilities Act right to nondiscrimination. It also reflects public recognition that not all disabilities are visible. As someone living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, I applaud lawmakers for helping ensure that police and first responders approach these interactions with greater understanding and care.

But the place where people with invisible disabilities most urgently need protection is the courtroom. In my custody case, a judge questioned my judgment without ever reviewing medical evaluations.

If Maryland truly wants to uphold disability rights, it must pair Eric’s Law with mandatory judicial training, written rulings on ADA motions and independent oversight of court practices. These changes would ensure that decisions were based on medical evidence — not personal opinion — and that people with invisible disabilities were treated with the fairness the law promises.

Eric’s Law is a meaningful first step. But until our courts are equipped to understand and accommodate disabilities they can’t see, many Marylanders will continue to be denied justice.

Published in The Washington Post, Oct. 15, 2025