DARS Seeks Public Input about ECI Program
at Stakeholder Meetings

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Early Childhood Intervention (DARS ECI) is a statewide program for families with children, birth to three, with disabilities and developmental delays. ECI supports families to help their children have the resources they need to reach their goals.

Because the program is serving an increasing number of children and families with limited resources, DARS ECI is gathering information to plan and prepare for the future. DARS is asking for input from stakeholders about ECI, especially families who have received ECI services, on how it can best use limited resources to provide those services most important to children and families.

You can help by telling DARS ECI representatives your thoughts and suggestions. Parents, doctors, community providers, referral sources, and other interested parties are welcome. Comments on all areas of the ECI Program are welcomed, but there are certain questions that need more focus:

• Which ECI services are most important to you?
• What are the strengths and challenges of ECI that affect the quality of the program?
• What other services (not offered by ECI) provide added support for families?
• What changes would you make to the ECI system for the future?
• If not all children could be served with available resources, which children would be prioritized to receive ECI services?
• Do you have any other comments about ECI, in general?

DARS ECI also seeks input on recommendations developed through a stakeholder input process and contained in the two reports described below.

ECI Reports

In December 2008 and October 2009, DARS ECI asked a group of stakeholders to look at options and make suggestions for new ideas about ECI eligibility and the service delivery system. Stakeholders included parents of children with disabilities, pediatricians, service providers, and program administrators.

The recommendations made by the stakeholder groups are available in the following reports:

A Report to the Texas ECI System Regarding the Stakeholder Task Force Meeting on ECI Eligibility (http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/eci_eligibility_2008.pdf )

A Report to the Texas ECI System Regarding Review of the Current ECI Service Delivery System (http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/Review_of_ECI_2009.pdf )

For an alternate format of the reports, please contact DARS ECI at DARS.inquiries@dars.state.tx.us

Stakeholder Meetings

Stakeholder meetings will be held around the state and will be from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Meeting dates and locations are:

If you need additional information or require special accommodations, please contact the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115, TDD/TTY 1-866-581-9328 or email requests to DARS.inquiries@dars.state.tx.us within five business days prior to the meeting. Written suggestions and comments may be emailed by January 30, 2010 to DARS.inquiries@dars.state.tx.us or mailed to:

Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services
4900 N. Lamar Boulevard, MC 3029
Austin, Texas 78751-2399

Please share this information with other families and people in your networks.

Automatic ECI Updates

Receive automatic updates on ECI information when it is posted to our website. Log onto www.dars.state.tx.us and click on the “Sign up for Email Updates” button. Once you register your email address, select the “DARS ECI News” checkbox on the following page, and you will receive Internet updates on the DARS ECI program sent directly to your Inbox.