Disability Parking Policy

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A WKU parking permit is required to park on campus during enforcement hours, Monday – Friday 7:30AM – 4:30PM.  You will need a WKU issued disability permit in conjunction with your state placard.  There are two disability classifications -- Tier 1 for faculty/staff and Tier 2 for students.  Disability spaces are marked with signs. 

Kentucky law stipulates that disability parking placards may only be used by the individual to which the credential is issued.  Misuse of disability parking credentials may result in a citation, impoundment, and/or termination of the permit privileges.

Temporary medical accommodations are also available through PTS.

Faculty/Staff – Tier 1 Disability Permits

A copy of your disability placard along with the registration showing ownership should be forwarded to the Parking and Transportation Services office in-person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.  Contact the state Division of Motor Vehicles to obtain state-issued credentials. 

A Tier 1 Disability permit is valid in: 

• any disability space on campus
• any other regular, non-reserved space
• meters for two hours in addition to any time purchased on the meter

The Tier 1 Disability permit should be displayed from your rear-view mirror.  The state-issued placard should be displayed on the dashboard, or behind the Tier 1 permit.

Employees can renew their Tier 1 Disability permit if their disability license plate or state-issued disability hang-tag is current.  New documentation must be provided when the license plate changes or the hang-tag expires.  

Students – Tier 2 Disability Permits

A copy of your disability placard along with the registration showing ownership should be forwarded to the Parking and Transportation Services office in-person, mailed, emailed, or faxed.  Contact the state Division of Motor Vehicles to obtain state-issued credentials. 

A Tier 2 Disability permit is valid in: 

• any Tier 2 disability space
• any regular, non-reserved space in any student lot
• meters for two hours in addition to any time purchased on the meter

The Tier 2 Disability permit should be displayed from your rear-view mirror.  The state-issued placard should be displayed on the dashboard, or behind the Tier 2 permit.

Students can renew their Tier 2 Disability permit if their disability license plate or state-issued disability hang-tag is current.  New documentation must be provided when the license plate changes or the hang-tag expires.  

Temporary Disability Parking

Individuals with a state-issued temporary disability placard (red) are eligible for a temporary Disability permit. 

Bring a copy of your disability placard along with the registration showing ownership to Parking and Transportation Services.  You will be issued a temporary Disability permit that corresponds to the date on your temporary state credentials.  The temporary disability permit should be displayed on the dashboard.

Temporary Medical Accommodations

Faculty/Staff Temporary Medical Accommodations

Temporary parking accommodations may be issued with a physician's documentation for a maximum of six weeks.   The doctor's note must include:  

• The nature of the illness or injury
• The expected time disability access will be needed
• A specific request for temporary disability accommodations.

The six-week accommodations allow parking in:

• Tier 1 Disability spaces for two weeks followed by four weeks in Premium parking.  If Tier 1 disability accommodations are required for longer then two weeks, the individual should obtain a state-issued Temporary Disability Placard. 
• Meters for two hours in addition to any time purchased on the meter

Premium parking access can be renewed for an additional six weeks with another physicians note. 

Temporary medical accommodations can be issued for a maximum of twelve-weeks.

Student Medical Accommodations

Temporary parking accommodations may be issued with a physician's documentation for a maximum of six weeks.   The doctor's note must include:  

• The nature of the illness or injury
• The expected time disability access will be needed
• A specific request for temporary disability accommodations.

The six-week accommodations allow parking in:

• Tier 2 Disability spaces or any regular, non-reserved space in any student lot.
• Meters for two hours in addition to any time purchased on the meter

Tier 2 Disability access can be renewed for an additional six weeks with another physicians note.

Temporary medical accommodations can be issued for a maximum of twelve-weeks.

Special Needs Assistance

Caretakers or disability assistance personnel who are not a current student or faculty/staff may contact Parking and Transportation Services for parking arrangements.

Visitors

One-day visitor parking permits are available at the Parking and Transportation Services office for $2.  To park in disability spaces on campus, visitors must display both the state-issued disability placard and the WKU visitor permit.

Topper Transit

Topper Transit buses are ADA and wheelchair accessible and can carry up to 2 wheelchair passengers. 

Please refer to the Transit section of our website for details on routes, schedules, and bus stop locations.

Curb-to-curb para-transit services are available.  Registration is required with Parking and Transportation.  For more information, call 270-745-2361.  Once registered, users may request para-transit service through the TapRide app.  Inside the app, scroll to Western Kentucky University, enter your NetID and password to log-in and request a ride.  For more information on TapRide, visit www.tapridemobile.com. 

During Intersession when Topper Transit has reduced hours of service, Tier 2 Disability permits are honored in all disability Tier 1 and Tier 2 spaces.  See Intersession Parking Policy for details.   

Review Procedures

Any person who disagrees with the disability accommodations provided by Parking and Transportation Services may request a review by The Equal Opportunity Office (www.wku.edu/eeo).

A written request must be submitted to Parking and Transportation Services stating the reasons for a modification.

The decision of the reviewing office shall be the final decision.  Notification of the decision will be in writing and a copy provided to all parties.