The Early Childhood Education and Development Center at Ability Connection Texas is one of the most exceptional educational experiences available for children with any type of physical or intellectual disability. The Center offers a high-quality preschool education to children ages 18 months to 6 years of age, and operates Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm, year round. Instruction emphasizes the development of motor, social, adaptive and language skills in order to prepare students with disabilities for Kindergarten.

The Center provides a modified curriculum that allows each child to strengthen their educational skills. Students are assessed using a developmental inventory to identify strengths and opportunities for growth. Based on the outcome of the assessment, individualized goals are developed in order to address each child’s educational needs.

Videos:

• ACT’s Early Childhood Program

The Early Childhood Development and Education Center is located in Dallas at the Greater DFW Service Center of Ability Connection Texas. The Center is approximately 3.5 miles from Children's Hospital of Dallas and 4.5 miles from Scottish Rite hospital.Click to view a Map to our location.

A unique feature of ACT’s Early Childhood Development and Education Center is that physical, occupational, and speech therapies are provided to students at no additional charge. Students receive one-on-one therapy sessions based on their needs, then therapists work with the Center’s Teachers and together they determine how best to incorporate treatment goals and strategies within the classroom environment. Integrating therapeutic components into the classroom helps students focus on their education, not their disability.

Admission to the Early Childhood Development and Education Center is requires a application and with an interview with our Director of Children’s Services. Then, the Admission Committee, consisting of our Chief Operating Officer, the Children’s Services Director, the Lead Teacher, and Therapist, makes a recommendation on whether the student and family can benefit from our Center’s educational and therapeutic services. Students are accepted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

To participate in ACT's Early Childhood program, the child must:

• Not be on any life support systems, such as ventilators, heart monitors, etc.
• Be free from communicable diseases within 14 days prior to entry to the program.
• Complete a vision and hearing screening within 120 days of admission and provide a copy of those records to ACT (ages 4 and 5).

Before a child can be enrolled in preschool or therapy services, the following documentation must be submitted:

• Physician's referral form or other written statement from a licensed health professional that has examined the child within the past year that states the child is able to participate in the program.
• Current immunization records.

In order to make tuition affordable to families, a majority of the Education Center’s operating costs are supported by revenue from fund raising activities, United Way funding, grants and other corporate and private donations.

Tuition for the Center is very affordable and competitive with area preschool programs. Families experiencing financial hardship may receive a full or partial scholarship (on a monthly basis) if they meet the low-income eligibility criteria. However, there are limited scholarships available each is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. ACT’s Early Childhood Development and Education Center is a Child Care Group vendor. In order for families to be eligible for scholarships they must be on the Child Care Assistance waiting list. Want more information or want to enroll your child in ACT’s Early Childhood Development & Education Center? Contact Us!

Barbara Cravey: Director of Childrens Program  

Office Phone: (214) 247-4538
Mobile Phone: (817) 403-1016