Resources for programs serving children with special needs
Explore resources that help create a welcoming and supportive environment for every child.
This TWC webpage will help you understand your responsibilities when caring for children with disabilities. It explains the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how TWC can help make sure all children are welcome in your care.
This webpage offers tips on child development, healthy eating, and healthcare resources to help you care for children. You can also learn about how children learn and play, and find resources for children with special needs or delays.
Supporting Young Children and Their Families
The Texas Developmental Screening and Surveillance (TX DSS) ECHO is a virtual learning series for early childhood professionals led by UT Health San Antonio and Texas DSHS. This TX DSS ECHO webinar recording, provided by TEA, will explain support that is available for young children with disabilities, provide an overview of the SPEDTex information center, and provide resources to help guide families toward the appropriate next steps for children ages 3-5. More information and resources are available at https://wp.uthscsa.edu/echo/echo-programs/texas-developmental-screening-and-surveillance-tx-dss-echo/.
Resources for children needing extra support
Learn strategies to help children who may need additional support thrive in your care.
Services that can assist children zero to three years of age with disabilities, developmental delays, or certain medical diagnoses that may impact development. Families with children over the age of three should contact their local school district. Providers can find helpful tools, tips, and ECI outreach materials to support young children and families in their care.
Positive behavior support is the prevention and intervention of challenging behaviors displayed by young children. Positive strategies used to change behavior can include teaching new skills, preventing challenging behaviors and supporting the child in achieving meaningful, long-term results.
Guidelines to help Texans understand what very young children should know and be able to do at different stages in their development.
Guidelines aligned with the Kindergarten Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to follow child development and strategies for teaching three- to four-year-olds in the early childhood classroom.
Expulsion reduction and prevention
TWC Expulsion Reduction and Prevention Policy Statement:
TWC is committed to providing support and resources to child care and early education providers, caregivers and parents to assist in creating positive classroom climates, and in developing strategies to appropriately address challenging behaviors in order to reduce suspensions or expulsions from the child care setting.
Find resources for states, providers and parents about Reducing Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Settings.
Professional development resources for guidance, discipline, and challenging behavior
TWC, in partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, will provide free or low-cost online professional development courses designed to assist caregivers who work with children with challenging behavior and special needs.
TWC highly encourages child care providers serving TWC-funded children to make the courses part of staff development and ongoing staff training.
- Positive Guidance and Discipline
- Positive Guidance and Discipline: Why, What, and How?
- Responding to Challenging Infant Toddler Behavior
- Trouble in the Classroom: Overcoming Challenging Behaviors in the Early Childhood Classroom
TWC also encourages child care providers to review and consider adopting the principles in the U.S. Department of Education’s Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline.
- Responding to Challenging Infant Toddler Behavior
- Introduction to Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Development
- Strategies for Caring for Preschool and School-age Children with Challenging Behaviors
Infant and toddler training:
- Handling Infants’ and Toddlers’ Challenging Behavior
- What Parents Need to Know about Infant and Toddler Development
- Infant and Toddler Social Emotional Development
Texas Early Childhood Inclusion Plan 2026-2030
Texas state law asks three key agencies (the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC), and TWC) to work together to help young children with disabilities or learning delays.
This 4-year Texas Early Childhood Inclusion Plan was created by these agencies using helpful feedback from Texas families, teachers, child care providers, and community advocates. Our goal is to expand quality learning opportunities and ensure every child gets the support they need to learn and grow.