Parking and Transportation
What are parking and transportation accommodations?
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) considers parking and transportation accommodations when a disability creates a barrier to accessing campus, using an assigned parking location, or using the standard campus bus system.
Parking and transportation accommodations are based on a student’s disability-related access needs. They are not intended to provide the closest or most convenient parking location and do not guarantee parking near a specific academic building. Parking accommodations are not intended to be a substitute for a state disability placard.
Parking accommodations available through SAS
SAS can consider parking accommodations in the following circumstances:
Parking near a residence hall: Available to residential students who have a disability-related need for frequent access to their vehicle and cannot use the standard campus bus routes due to a disability.
Parking on campus: Available to commuter students who are assigned to an exterior parking lot and cannot use the standard campus bus routes due to a disability.
SAS does not provide parking accommodations based on a student's preferred building or campus location.
Students must purchase the appropriate parking permit before a parking accommodation can be implemented. SAS determines whether the accommodation is supported, while Parking Services coordinates the parking assignment. All assignments remain subject to campus parking policies and space availability.
Parking near academic buildings
Students who need to park at or very close to their academic buildings should apply for a state-issued disability placard through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Students with a state-issued disability placard may contact Parking Services to obtain a Kent State disability parking permit. This allows students to park in state-designated disability parking spaces on campus.
Additional information is available through the Ohio BMV website and the Kent State Parking Services website.
Requesting a parking or transportation accommodation
Students requesting a parking or transportation accommodation should complete the SAS Student Application and provide documentation describing:
the disability and its current functional impact;
the disability-related barrier the student experiences when accessing campus, using their assigned parking location, or using the standard campus bus system; and
how the requested accommodation would address that barrier.
Students may review the documentation guidelines and access the Disability Documentation Form on the SAS website.
Renewing a parking accommodation
Parking accommodations are reviewed based on the student’s circumstances and the type of accommodation:
Parking near a residence hall is reviewed annually.
On-campus parking for commuter students is reviewed each semester.
Updated documentation may be requested when needed to understand the student's current access needs.
Students are responsible for contacting SAS to request renewal of a parking accommodation and notifying SAS if their disability-related access needs change.
Temporary parking accommodations
Parking Services provides a temporary parking permit for up to four weeks for students with a temporary injury.
SATS Door-to-Door Transportation
This accommodation is appropriate for students whose disability interferes with their ability to utilize standard PARTA bus routes to navigate campus. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by SAS and is shared with PARTA SATS each academic year. Students are responsible for contacting PARTA to schedule their rides and for following all relevant policies and procedures set by PARTA.
Contact your Access Advisor with questions or concerns.
