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13.4 Overview of ECI Services
The Texas ECI Program is a statewide system of services available to families of children from birth to 3 years of age with disabilities or developmental delays. The state agency responsible for ECI services is the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). DARS contracts with local ECI programs to provide services in every Texas county.
ECI programs determine eligibility based on evaluations and assessments. Children are eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
• A delay in one or more areas of development.
•Atypical development (children who perform within their appropriate age range on test instruments, but whose patterns of development are different from their peers).
•A medically diagnosed condition (children who have a medically diagnosed condition with a high probability of resulting in developmental delay).
Families and professionals work together to develop an IFSP for appropriate services based on the unique needs of the child and the child's family.
ECI service coordination is provided to all families. Other ECI services may include physical, occupational, speech, and language therapy; service coordination; vision services; auditory services; developmental services; nutrition services; family counseling and education; and assistive technology services and devices.
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