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DSS

Transportation and Parking Accommodations

Step by Step Guide to Transportation and Parking Accommodations

In addition to the Kingston Connection Campus Shuttle, Disability Services for students may be able to provide assistance to students who

  • Are temporarily injured, or
  • Have permanent disabilities as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

Campus Shuttle: Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) operates Kingston Connection at the URI Kingston Campus and nearby areas. All busses are wheelchair accessible and are open to URI students, faculty, and staff at no charge. Students are encouraged to use the Kingston Connection wherever possible in transport from parking lots to the inner campus.  Commuter and Resident parking lots are equipped with accessible (wheelchair symbol) parking spaces close to the Shuttle stops. Point to point transportation is also available by reservation at 1-877-906-3539

Transportation Accommodations: A Step-by-Step Guide
In addition to the Kingston Connection Campus Shuttle, Disability Services for students may be able to provide assistance to students who

  • Are temporarily injured, or
  • Have permanent disabilities as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

Temporary 30-day Parking Permit: Disability Services for Students works with URI Parking Services to provide 30-day temporary medical parking permits for students who have

  • A valid URI Parking Permit, and
  • A documented temporary injury or medical condition that requires parking closer than resident or commuter parking lots.
  1. Please have a doctor complete the Parking Medical Documentation form including nature and severity of the medical condition, and including the length of time the permit is needed.
  2. If the recovery period will last longer than 30 days, please simultaneously apply for the RI State Temporary Parking Permit at the RI Department of Motor Vehicles. Temporary state placards are generally available within the 30 days and are granted up to one year.
  3. Come to Disability Services for Students, 330 Memorial Union Building, Kingston Campus, 401-874-2098, (preferably by appointment) to speak with a DSS Advisor.
  4. Please bring your completed medical documentation form, evidence of URI parking permit (permit number), vehicle registration information, and your URI student ID card.
  5. The DSS Advisor will verify your information, and the DSS receptionist will provide the 30-day permit with accompanying guidelines, and will notify parking services to allow gated lot access if necessary.
  6. Any exceptions are handled on a case-by-case-basis, by-appointment-only with a DSS Advisor, and are dependent on medical documentation of need.  Please call 401-874-2098 to arrange an appointment.

URI Ram Van:
The URI RamVan is a small wheelchair accessible, 3-10 passenger vehicle that provides transportation in addition to, and separately from, the Kingston Connection shuttle service.

The RamVan is intended for students with documented, permanent disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) to assist with navigating the URI Campus. Eligibility for the RamVan is determined on a case-by-case basis, and by appointment with a DSS Advisor. Please view the Documentation Guidelines for information about required documentation to access the RamVan Service.

At certain times of the year and ONLY as space is available, we may be able to accommodate certain students with temporary injuries, depending on medical severity of the injury. However, for students with temporary needs, the RamVan will not duplicate routes already covered by the RIPTA Kingston Connection.

Application procedure for the RamVan is the same for both permanent and temporary riders:

  1. Make an appointment with a DSS Advisor by calling 401-874-2098.
  2. Verify that your documentation of disability is current and complete each semester; or provide the DSS Advisor with complete medical documentation outlined in the URI Documentation Guidelines
  3. Complete the ride request form, which will determine time and place of pick up and drop off for each ride of the day.
  4. If your application is approved, sign the RamVan agreement form which describes specific RamVan policies and procedures.
  5. Allow at least two business days from the time of application to the first scheduled ride. Additions or changes to the ride schedule require 24-hour advance notice.
  6. The RamVan will provide rides to on-campus classroom locations and on-campus student employment (as space allows). The RamVan is NOT available for personal appointments or activities.
  7. All riders must be ready to enter the van at or before their designated pick up time and place. The RamVan cannot accommodate late riders, as this affects other students' ability to get to class on time.
  8. Riders agree to call in cancellations as far in advance as possible (preferably 24 hours). Riders who do not call to cancel are considered "no-shows."
  9. Consistent in-attention to or misuse of RamVan schedules and policies may result in forfeiture of the service.