#AdvocacyMatters: Reducing Referral Fatigue
April 24, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters
When seeking guidance, resources, and support, chasing referrals from organization to organization can be exhausting, confusing, and discouraging. When you mix in the challenges or situations leading those to seek this guidance in the first place, the referral fatigue sets in tenfold. Help isn’t very helpful if you can’t access it.
Earlier this week, we announced a strengthened partnership between Disability Rights Ohio and the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities. Going forward, DRO and OCECD will work together to ensure families get referred to the organization best able to assist them so that families quickly get the assistance they need to avoid referral burnout.
As a part of this announcement, the two organizations launched a new resource that helps to explain the type of work each one does and what to expect from the shared referral process. Both the announcement and this new resource were released in multiple languages, maximizing their impact throughout the communities who need them most.
“We hear from exhausted parents who are looking for support for their children but are referred to multiple agencies who cannot help them, reflected Kristin Hildebrant, DRO Senior Attorney. “DRO’s partnership with OCECD is focused on relieving the referral fatigue many parents experience by ensuring that families receive the services they need as efficiently and quickly as possible.”
Strategic, client-focused partnerships like this help us maximize the impact of our work. You can learn more at www.disabilityrightsohio.org/droocecd.
#AdvocacyMatters
This project was supported, in part by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, under grant number 26OU01FA26 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.