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Disability Parking Policy

Effective 07/30/2009

 

Audience

Customers requiring disability parking or transit service on campus.

 

Definitions

State Issued Disability Credentials:  Department of Motor Vehicles disability records in the form of a license plate registration or placard, with corresponding placard registration, issued in the name of the disabled customer.

PTS:  WKU Parking and Transportation Services department

 

Policy Details:  Background

  • Reserved disability parking spaces designated for students and faculty/staff with disabilities are intended for those with severe mobility impairment, as defined in the U.S. Code, Public Law 100-641, November 9, 1988, Part 655 Sub Part H, Uniform System for Handicap Parking.
  • Employees and students with disabilities must register their vehicles with PTS in person in order to verify ownership of state issued disability credentials.  This requirement is needed to protect the use of disability parking for those who are qualified to use it.

General Permit Requirements

  • In general, WKU parking permits are required to park on campus during enforcement hours, 7:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.  See "Evening Parking Policy" for permit requirements in the evening.
  • During permit enforcement hours, a WKU Disability permit must be displayed in conjunction with state issued disability credentials to park in disability parking spaces on campus.
  • To obtain a WKU Disability permit from PTS, disabled customers must present current state issued disability credentials.
  • To assist with mobility needs, registered disabled customers have full access to free transit services including a para-transit shuttle.

Visitors

  • One-day Visitor parking permits are available at the PTS office for $2/day.
  • For access to disability reserved spaces, the state issued disability credentials must be visible along with the WKU visitor permit.
  • Additional visitor parking and shuttle accommodations are outlined in the "Visitor Parking Policy".

WKU Faculty & Staff - Tier 1 Disability Permits

  • To obtain an annual or temporary WKU Disability permit from PTS, disabled faculty and staff must present current state issued disability credentials.
    • Contact the State Division of Motor Vehicles to obtain state issued credentials.
  • Faculty and Staff are issued WKU Tier 1 Disability permits.
    • Faculty and Staff with permanent disabilities and credentials are issued annual Tier 1 Disability permits.
    • Faculty and Staff with temporary disabilities and state issued credentials are issued temporary Tier 1 dashboard permits with an expiration date corresponding to the state issued credentials.
  • Tier 1 Disability permits allow parking in the following areas:
    • Any designated disability space on campus
  • Please note:  the disability spaces in the Health Services Center client parking lot are reserved for Health Services clients.
    • Any non-reserved parking space on campus; that is, spaces not otherwise restricted by yellow lines, postings, gates or any reserved or numbered spaces.
    • Any available time limit spaces or metered spaces for two (2) hours plus the time allotted for other users as stated in KRS 186.042(5).
  • When parking on campus, both the WKU Tier 1 Disability permit and the state issued disability credentials must be displayed and visible.
    • State disability placards may hang from the rearview mirror behind the WKU Disability permit or be displayed on the dashboard.
    • The annual WKU Disability permit should hang from the rearview mirror.
    • The temporary Disability permit should be displayed on the dashboard.
  • To assist with mobility needs, registered disabled faculty and staff have full access to free transit services including the para-transit shuttle.

 

WKU Students - Tier 2 Disability Permits

  • To obtain an annual WKU Disability permit from PTS, disabled students must present current state issued disability credentials.
    • Contact the State Division of Motor Vehicles to obtain state issued credentials.
  • Students are issued WKU Tier 2 Disability permits
    • Students with permanent disabilities and credentials are issued annual Tier 2 Disability permits.
    • Students with permanent disabilities and credentials are issued a temporary Tier 2 dashboard permit with an expiration date corresponding to the state issued credentials.
  • Tier 2 Disability permits allow parking in the following areas:
    • Designated disability spaces in any Housing, Commuter, or All Permits zone.  This includes all disability parking within PS1 and PS2.
  • Please note:  The disability spaces in the Health Services Center client parking lot are reserved for Health Services clients.
    • Any non-reserved parking space with the Housing Commuter, or All Permits zone; that is, spaces not otherwise restricted by yellow lines, postings, gates or any reserved or numbered spaces.
    • The following parking locations are marked as Housing, Commuter or All Permits zones and include designated disability spaces that are convenient to WKU Topper Transit bus stops:

      • Adams Street Lot

      • Avenue of Champions, Housing Zone Section

      • Barnes Lot

      • Chestnut Street South Lot

      • Chestnut Street North Lot

      • College Heights Blvd. Lot

      • Creason Lot

      • Hugh Poland Lot

      • Kentucky Street Lot

      • McLean Service Drive

      • McCormack Visitor Lot

      • Minton Circle

      • Minton Hall Lot

      • Normal Lot

      • Parking Structure #1 (PS1)

      • Parking Structure #2 (PS2)

      • Pearce Ford Tower Lot

    • Any available time limit spaces or metered spaces for two (2) hours plus the time allotted for other users as stated in KRS 186.042(5).
    • Please note:  When Topper Transit is not running full service, such as during the summer, severe weather, or winter term, Tier 2 permits are honored in all disability reserved spaces in all faculty/staff designated lots.
    • Faculty/staff parking is open to all permits between 4:30pm - 7:30am, Monday - Friday.  All Tier 2 permits are honored in all disability spaces during this time.
  • When parking on campus, both the WKU Tier 2 Disability permit and the state issued disability credentials must be displayed and visible.
    • State disability placards may hang form the rearview mirror behind the WKU Disability permit or be displayed on the dashboard.
    • The annual WKU Disability permit should hang from the rearview mirror.
    • The temporary Disability permit should be displayed on the dashboard.
  • To assist with mobility needs, registered disabled students have full access to free transit services including the para-transit shuttle.

Temporary Medical Accommodations

  • No WKU Tier 1 Disability parking permits can be issued without permanent or temporary state issued credentials.
  • For medical accommodations without state issued credentials:
    • Documentation from the attending physician stating the nature of the illness or injury and the expected time period that premium access is needed is required.
    • Temporary permits are issued for up to six weeks at a time.
    • Should a temporary permit expire and accommodations are still needed, another current letter from the physician is required to extend medical accommodations.
    • Maximum combined temporary parking for a medical accommodation is limited to 12 weeks.
  • Temporary Premium parking permits may be issued to faculty and staff as a medical accommodation.
    • Parking privileges correspond to a Premium parking permit.
  • Temporary Tier 2 Disability permits may be issued to faculty, staff or students as a medical accommodation.
    • Parking privileges correspond to a Tier 2 Disability permit.
  • To assist with mobility needs, registered customers with temporary medical accommodations have full access to free transit services including the para-transit shuttle.

Topper Transit and Para-Transit Service

  • All WKU transit buses are ADA equipped and may accommodate the needs of persons with a temporary or permanent disability.
  • Please refer to the Transit section of our website for more details on transit routes, schedules, and stop locations.  This is a free service available 7:20am - 9:00pm, Monday - Friday.
  • Disabled customers who are registered with PTS may utilized the WKU Para-transit service.  Call (270) 745-2361 for more details.

Review Procedure

  • Any person who disagrees with the recommendation of PTS regarding the issue of a Tier 2 Disability parking permit, temporary parking accommodations or eligibility for para-transit service may request review of the decision by the Office for Equal Opportunity/504/ADA Compliance.
  • A request for review must be in writing and must be delivered to PTS.  The request shall state the reasons why the party is requesting review and modification of the recommendation and may also contain any additional information the party wishes to submit for consideration.  PTS may also submit any additional information for consideration, with a copy to the party requesting review.
  • Every effort shall be made to review the recommendation in a timely and expeditious manner.  The Office for Equal Opportunity/504/ADA Compliance may request a personal appearance by the person requesting the review.  The decision shall be the final decision.  Notification of a decision shall be in writing, provided to PTS and the person requesting the review.