ECI Houston: Supportive Programs For Children Born With Disabilities
In this community resource guide, you will learn about the ECI program in Houston.
If your child is showing signs of a developmental disability, the Houston ECI program may be able to help. The ECI project provides help to parents with children who may have disabilities. Help offered includes things like an evaluation, in-home services, therapy, and more.
Keep reading to learn more about the ECI program in Houston to see if they can help your family.
What Is Early Childhood Intervention?
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a state-funded program that provides supportive services to infants and toddlers with disabilities.
The goal of the ECI program is to help these children develop and reach their full potential. Families can receive help in their homes, at childcare, or even in the hospital.
If you think that your child needs an early childhood intervention assessment, you will need to contact Harris Center at 713.970.4800 or 713.970.7000.
Why Is Early Intervention So Important?
It’s important because the earlier a child gets help, the more likely they are to reach their developmental milestones so they can be fully prepared for elementary school.
For example, a child who gets help with their speech at an early age is more likely to be able to communicate clearly when they’re older. Speech therapy is just one example of ECI services thare are offered by an early intervention specialist.
Who Qualifies For Houston ECI?
Early Childhood Intervention is for children ages birth to 3 years old. When children are this young it can be difficult to tell if they have a disability. An early childhood interventionist uses different tests and tools to figure out if your child has a developmental delay. A developmental delay is when your child is not developing skills as fast as other children the same age.
If your child does have a developmental delay, the ECI team will work with you to create a plan. This plan will help your child catch up in their development.
What Are Signs Of Developmental Delay In Infants?
Signs of developmental delay in infants can vary depending on the area or skill that is affected. However, some common signs that parents can look for may include:
- A baby who is not yet able to roll over
- Cannot sit up independently
- Cannot crawl
- Who does not yet babble or use gestures such as waving bye-bye
- Social and emotional skills are not yet developed (for example, they may not yet smile back when you smile at them)
If you are concerned that your child may be developmentally delayed, it is important to speak with your child’s healthcare provider. They will be able to help you understand if there is cause for concern and then refer you to a provider to help.
What Conditions Will ECI Test For?
Some of the disabilities that Houston ECI will test for include:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Blindness or low vision
- Deafness or hearing loss
- Intellectual disability
- Motor delays
- Speech and language delays
These are just some of the disabilities that Early Childhood Intervention will test for.
Early Childhood Intervention Services Offered
An early childhood intervention specialist provides many services to help parents with children who have disabilities. Some of these ECI services include:
- Evaluations
- In-home services
- Therapy
- Special instruction
- Respite care
- Parent training and support groups
How To Sign Up For An Houston Early Childhood Intervention Programs
To have your child screened for the Early Childhood Intervention program in Houston, you will need Harris Center. They are one of the largest ECI offices in Houston. You can schedule an appointment with Harris Center by calling them at 713.970.4800 or 713.970.7000. When you speak to the operator let them know that you would like to schedule an ECI appointment.
Medicaid Waiver Programs (Long Term Services For Children With Disabililites)
If your child does have a developmental disability, the next step in finding assistance could be signing up for a Medicaid Waiver program. Medicaid Waiver programs are designed to help people with disabilities live in their own homes or communities instead of institutions.
While a Texas Medicaid Waiver program can provide many supportive services, you should know that some families remain on the waitlist for years. For this reason, you are encouraged to put your child on a Medicaid Waiver waitlist as soon as possible.
You can learn more about Texas Medicaid Waivers by reading this resource guide or sign up for a waitlist by contacting Harris Center at 713.970.7000.
Conclusion
The ECI program in Houston is a great resource for parents with young children who may have disabilities. The program provides many ECI services to help children develop and reach their full potential.
If you are in the Houston area and think your child may benefit from the ECI program, contact Harris Center to schedule an evaluation. The ECI number in Houston Texas is 713.970.4800 or 713.970.7000. They will be able to evaluate your child and if necessary refer you to support services in the Houston area.
You can also visit the Texas Health and Human Services website to learn more about ECI Texas programs.
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Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
