Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Promotes New Hidden Disabilities Awareness Initiative

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is launching a Hidden Disabilities Awareness Initiative to support residents with non-apparent disabilities by offering free butterfly stickers and buttons designed to alert first responders that additional patience and understanding may be needed during interactions. The effort builds on Eric’s ID Law, which took effect in October 2025 and allows Maryland residents to add a butterfly designator to their driver’s license, ID card, or moped permit to discreetly indicate a hidden disability. Community members can receive a free envelope with the sticker and buttons at our next community event. They will have a booth on 16th Street right off the Ocean City boardwalk during the Ocean City Air Show on June 13–14. You can also stop by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office or contact Executive Assistant Susan Ailstock at sailstock@worcestermd.gov to arrange pickup.

Additional Information from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office:

Important Reminder:
The absence of a butterfly symbol does not mean a person does not have a non-apparent disability.

Surrounding states such as Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Virginia offer a similar voluntary initiative known as the Blue Envelope Program. In Maryland, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) provides a comparable resource upon request—the Blue Card, a wallet-sized card that allows individuals to share important information with law enforcement about their disability or communication needs during interactions.