DARS Division for Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Notice of Public Hearing

ECI provides comprehensive early intervention services to families with infants and toddlers who have developmental delays, have diagnosed physical or mental conditions with a high probability of developmental delay, or exhibit atypical development. Early intervention services are provided as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C as Amended in 2004.

ECI is soliciting public comments on proposed amendments to Title 40, Texas Administrative Code Part 2, Chapter 108, Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services and proposed revisions to the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Early Childhood Intervention Standards Manual for Contracted Programs. The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is providing an opportunity to comment from March 20, 2009 until May 19, 2009.

The proposed revisions to Title 40, Texas Administrative Code Part 2, Chapter 108, Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services are published in the March 20, 2009, issue of the Texas Register at www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/. Chapter 108 is being extensively restructured and expanded from five subchapters to seven subchapters in order to increase clarity and minimize duplication of or conflicts with federal statutes and rules.

The proposed revisions to the ECI Standards Manual for Contracted Programs can be viewed on the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Web site at www.dars.state.tx.us. The manual has been extensively restructured, expanded from 3 chapters to 23 chapters, and reformatted to clarify requirements and increase usability.

ECI will host public hearings around the state during May to collect testimony and respond to comments. Public Hearings will be held according to the following schedule, and each of these hearings will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

May 11, 2009
El Paso State Office Building
Room 570
401 East Franklin
El Paso, Texas 79901

May 15, 2009
Cook Children's Medical Center
Decker Board Room
801 Seventh Ave
Fort Worth, Texas 76104

May 19, 2009
Brown Heatly Building
4900 North Lamar
Suite 1410
Austin, Texas 78751

Persons requiring special accommodations should call 512-424-6745 at least 72 hours prior to the public hearing.

To provide written comments, please contact:
Cynthia Henderson, M.Ed.
Lead Policy Specialist
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Division for Early Childhood Intervention
4900 North Lamar Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78751-2399, Mail Code 3029
cynthia.henderson@dars.state.tx.us
512-424-6754