For parents in Irving
Is your child talking less than other kids their age?
Under age 3, call the Warren Center’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program at 972-490-9055. From age 3, your address decides the district, and Irving ISD’s assessment team at 972-600-4645 evaluates preschoolers for free.
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 Irving
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 serves Irving, with an office at 400 East Royal Lane, Suite 112. Call (972) 490-9055. You don’t need a doctor’s referral, and the evaluation is free. Dallas County lists more than one ECI program, so your address or ZIP decides which one serves you.
Find ECI by ZIP codeFrom age 3, your public school district evaluates your child for free, even before kindergarten. Irving ISD, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Coppell ISD serve parts of Irving. Small parts are in Grand Prairie and Grapevine-Colleyville ISDs. Your address decides which one to call. Main lines are (972) 968-6100 for Carrollton-Farmers Branch and (214) 496-6000 for Coppell, so ask for special education. In Irving ISD, a preschooler who isn’t enrolled yet goes to the Early Childhood Assessment Team at 972-600-4645.
Irving ISD free evaluation pageA university center with speech and language services for children. It has a Dallas campus at 972-883-3000 and a Richardson campus at 972-883-3660. Call to ask about fees and wait times.
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.
NoelleMom, sister of a speech therapistMy sister is an SLP, and she actually told us to download this app for my kid.
ShannonMom of three autistic sonsIt's just really been a joy to see how much fun he has using the app.
LezlieMom of a toddlerHe looks forward to it every day because we get to take a fun picture.
AnaMom of a 2-year-oldIt's definitely one of my favorite apps right now for my little one.
MimiMomIt has so many different resources to help your child with their first words up to learning how to build sentences.
KaterinaMom and educatorI started looking for something that was research-backed and supported by professionals.
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.
MikeDad of a toddlerGail responds really well to seeing kids his age or a little bit older doing things that he's doing.
LindsayMom of a 2-year-oldThey agreed that we could be doing some more practice at home.
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 / Northwest Park
City option
A city park at 2800 Cheyenne St. with a walking trail.
Walk the trail together. Say one word, like “bird” or “tree,” and wait for your child to copy a sound or a word.
02 / Valley Ranch Library
City option
Irving’s Valley Ranch Library is at 401 Cimarron Trail. The library calendar lists its storytimes.
Pick a picture book and point to one animal. Make its sound together, then pause so your child can try.
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 contact them yourself. Irving ISD takes calls about preschoolers at 972-600-4645. Texas Medicaid needs a referral from your child’s doctor. A clinic like the Callier Center may ask for one too.
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. Read a picture book from Valley Ranch Library, name what your child points at 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 evaluation is free. Its number is (972) 490-9055. 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 at the Callier Center or at 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 Irving
Irving families have a clear split. A baby or toddler up to 36 months goes to ECI. A child 3 or older goes to the school district.
Irving ISD hands preschoolers who aren’t enrolled to its Early Childhood Assessment Team, which works from the Special Education Annex. Irving ISD also lists Clifton, Kinkeade and Pierce as early childhood schools. A parent of a child who already attends an Irving ISD school contacts that campus. The Special Education Department number is 972-600-4600.
Irving does not sit inside a single school district. Irving ISD serves much of the city. Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Coppell ISD also serve parts of it. Coppell ISD says North Irving belongs to its area. Your home address decides, so look up your address with the district before you write your request. A short written request is enough to start a free evaluation.
If your child is under 3, call the Warren Center at (972) 490-9055. Say how many words your child uses. If your child is 3 or older and not in school yet, call 972-600-4645 if you live in Irving ISD.
The Callier Center is a university option with speech and language care for children. For practice, borrow picture books at Valley Ranch Library and walk the trail at Northwest Park. Name what you see and leave a pause after every word. Short, calm pauses give a late talker time to try a sound.
We last checked these details in November 2026.
