Accessible Parking Overview
This policy describes the process for requesting parking services to accommodate disabilities. If you think you need an accommodation in parking, look at the services below to learn about the kinds of services that are available to you. Some of the services may be a better fit than others. There are four broad services in our program:
- For faculty and staff — the Accessible Verification Decal
- For students — the Accessible Parking Permit
- For faculty, staff, and students — the Accessible Reserved Parking Space & Other Faculty/Staff Accommodation Requests
- For faculty, staff, and students — Accommodations for those who are ineligible for state-issued accessible parking placards or license plates.
Accessible parking spaces are located in University lots and structures across campus.
Accessible Parking Programs
Accessible Verification Decal
This service is for faculty/staff with an active U-M faculty/staff parking permit. Students are not eligible.
How to obtain an accessible verification decal:
- Complete an online form with your accessible parking information. Once Parking verifies information with the Secretary of State, an accessible verification decal will be mailed to your home address (2-5 business days)
- Stop by a Parking Customer Services location with your Mcard, driver’s license, and placard and/or vehicle registration. You can obtain the permit in person that day.
- If your accessible parking placard/license plate is valid for multiple years, Parking Customer Services will mail you a permit annually (end of June each year), as long as your accessible parking placard/license plate is valid for the next fiscal year AND you have a valid faculty/staff permit for the next fiscal year.
To park in a permitted accessible space on campus, your vehicle will have to display all three items:
- the accessible verification decal (red diamond shaped parking permit)
- a valid/active faculty/staff U-M parking permit
- a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate.
Student Accessible Parking Permit
This service is for students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) who have a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate. Faculty/staff are not eligible.
Any student who has a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate is eligible for a complimentary Blue permit for as long as the placard or license plate is valid.
How to obtain a Student Accessible Parking Permit:
- Stop by a Parking Customer Services location with your Mcard, driver’s license, and accessible parking placard and/or vehicle registration. You can obtain the permit in person that day.
- Affix the permit to your windshield. Be sure to display your state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate in addition to the Student Accessible Parking Permit in order to park in a permitted accessible parking space on campus. The Student Accessible Parking Permit is also valid in any Blue, Yellow, or Orange parking space. Your Mcard will be programmed for parking structure and gated lot access. If you are unable to swipe your Mcard at parking gates on campus, please email umpark@umich.edu for assistance.
- If you are unable to stop by a Parking Customer Services office, fill out this form to request a Student Accessible Parking Permit. Please note that it may take 2-5 business days for the permit to arrive in the mail.
Accessible Reserved Parking Spaces & Other Faculty/Staff Accommodation Requests
This service is for faculty, staff, and students who have a state-issued accessible parking placard or license plate and are already using accessible parking on campus, but need to request a reserved parking space or another accommodation.
How to request a reserved parking space for an accessible parking need or another accommodation:
- Contact Centralized ADA Office (Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office) – adacoordinator@umich.edu. A form will be provided (one page is customer information and the other page is for a physician to complete). Please do not email the form or any personal health information to Parking, rather email back to the Centralized ADA office.
- A committee will review the reserved parking space/accommodation request (all individuals have been trained in the use and protection of personal health information).
- The committee will contact you with any questions or recommendations.
- If an accessible reserved parking space or other accommodation is approved, the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office will notify Parking so that a reserved parking space sign can be installed.
Please note that all accessible reserved parking space requests end on June 30 (end of the fiscal year) and will be reviewed annually by the committee.
If you are seeking an accommodation and do not qualify for the accessible parking programs listed above:
- Consider speaking with your physician to see if you are eligible for an accessible parking placard or license plate. If you are able to obtain an accessible placard, then you are eligible for the options listed above.
- Consider Paratransit services, which may provide some or all of your accommodation needs.
- Ask your supervisor about work from home options and/or flex your schedule to come to campus on days or times where there is greater parking availability.
- Students – contact Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services regarding an accommodation request if you are seeking an accommodation not covered by the programs listed above. Click here for a link to the accommodation request form. Please note that accommodation requests are time limited (end on or before June 30 each year) and so students are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services a month prior to the expiration date of their request, if an accommodation is still warranted.
- Faculty/Staff – Contact Centralized ADA Office (Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX Office) – adacoordinator@umich.edu if you are seeking an accommodation not covered by the programs listed above.
