For parents in Garland
Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
Under age 3, call the Warren Center at 972-490-9055, Garland’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program. From age 3, your school district evaluates for free, and Garland ISD covers most of the city.
Is my child on track?
If something on this list worries you, you don’t need to wait and see. You can ask for a free evaluation right away.
Free and paid help in Garland
An evaluation is a check of how your child talks and understands words. It usually happens through play, often with a speech therapist.
The Warren Center’s Garland office is at 2625 Anita Drive. Call 972-490-9055. No doctor’s referral is needed, and the evaluation is free. Dallas County has two ECI programs, so your address or ZIP decides who serves you.
Find ECI by ZIP codeFrom age 3, your public school district evaluates your child for free. Garland ISD says a parent can contact the neighborhood school’s counselor or diagnostician, or Special Education at 972-487-3300. Small parts of the city are in Richardson, Mesquite or Dallas ISD. Main lines are 469-593-0000 for Richardson and (972) 288-6411 for Mesquite, so ask for special education. Your home address decides which district to ask.
Garland ISD free evaluation pageA university center with speech and language services for children, in Richardson next to Garland. For fees and wait times, call 972-883-3660.
Visit the Callier Center’s websiteThese services are run independently of Speech Blubs.
Speech Blubs at home
Getting an appointment can take time. Speech Blubs gives you short activities to do together: your child watches other kids say words and make sounds, then tries too.
Pick a topic your child loves, like animals or snacks.
Watch together and pause. Give your child time to look, point or say a word.
Use the word later, at snack time or in a book.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
Father of a 23-month-oldWhen I tell her it's time to play her game, she runs and gets up on the couch to play.
ChristinaMom of EdenWe aren't completely there, but we're closer than we ever have been.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
If your child sees a therapist, ask which activities fit.
Everyday ideas
A walk, a book or a snack gives you something to talk about. Follow what your child is looking at.
01 / Central Park
City option
Garland’s Central Park has a 6,500-square-foot inclusive playground for children.
Take turns on the playground. Say “go” and “stop,” then wait for your child to ask for more.
02 / Nicholson Memorial Library, Central Library
City option
The Central Library is at 625 Austin Street. Call (972) 205-2548 to ask about programs for young children.
Find a book with a vehicle on the cover. Say “vroom” and “beep,” then wait for your child to join in.
03 / The app
Show two familiar toys or foods and name them. Give your child time to respond with a look, a gesture, a sound or a word.
Opening hours change, so check the website before you go.
ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) is Texas’s program for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Its evaluation is free if your child is under 3. From age 3, your school district evaluates for free, whichever district your address is in. If your child qualifies for school services, speech therapy at school is free. ECI therapy costs depend on your family’s size and income, and no family is turned away because they can’t pay.
Texas Medicaid covers speech therapy from birth through age 20 when it’s medically necessary. It needs a referral from your child’s doctor. Private insurance plans differ. Call the number on your insurance card and ask whether insurance covers speech therapy and how much it costs.
Not for ECI or your school district. You can call the Warren Center at 972-490-9055 yourself, or contact your child’s neighborhood school. Texas Medicaid needs a referral from your child’s doctor. Clinics like the Callier Center have their own rules, so ask when you call.
Wait times differ from one service to the next, so ask when you call. Your school district must answer a written request within 15 school days. After you give written consent, the evaluation is usually done within 45 school days. While you wait, practice a few minutes a day. Name each action at the Central Park playground and pause. Speech Blubs has short activities you can do together.
Many 2-year-olds put two words together, like “more milk.” If your child doesn’t yet, it’s a good time to call the Warren Center. The ECI evaluation is free. You don’t need to wait and see.
No. Speech Blubs is an app for practice at home, with short activities you do together. A speech therapist evaluates your child and plans the therapy. If your child sees a therapist through ECI or school, ask which activities fit.
Yes. Speech Blubs is available in English and Spanish, plus 11 more languages. You can switch the language in the app menu.
Life with little ones in Garland
Garland has its own early intervention contact. Garland ISD names the Warren Center as its ECI program. Its Garland office is on Anita Drive, ZIP code 75041. A parent can phone 972-490-9055 directly. The Warren Center also has a Richardson site, so ask which office would see your child. ECI covers babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Dallas County also lists Metrocare Services as an ECI program, so your address or ZIP decides which one serves you.
Once your child turns 3, the school district takes over the free evaluation. Garland ISD says it serves Garland, Rowlett and Sachse. Small parts of the city are in Richardson, Mesquite or Dallas ISD. Your home address decides which district to contact, so start with the address.
In Garland ISD, a parent can speak with the counselor or educational diagnostician at the neighborhood school. The district says its staff do the evaluation at no charge. A team then meets with you to review the results.
Garland’s Central Park on West Avenue F has an inclusive playground. For clinic care, try the Callier Center’s Richardson campus. Ask about its wait time on your first call.
Between appointments, name each action at the playground and pause for your child’s answer. Say “go,” then “more go,” and wait. A look or a sound counts as a first try. Write down the words your child uses so you can share the list at your first call.
We last checked these details in November 2026.
