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Physical Access
Campus Access
As the physical campus has expanded uphill from Pacific Avenue, the University of Washington Tacoma has made it a priority to incorporate a variety of wheelchair accessible routes via a network of ramps, switchback trails, elevators and a sky-bridge. All campus buildings have been made wheelchair accessible via electronic door openers, internal ramps and elevators. Most bathrooms on campus also have electronic door openers, and every building on campus has accessible bathrooms. Below is information describing external accessible routes from both Pacific and Jefferson Avenues.
From Jefferson Avenue and Diamond Parking Lot *
You can access the lower central campus plaza via:
- a paved switchback trail located between the Jet Tool and Science Buildings that leads from Jefferson Avenue all the way down to the central campus plaza. Please see Campus Map and Directions for a map of this trail and all other routes described below.
- an open-air sky-bridge located in a recess between the Science Building and the Old Spaghetti Factory which connects with the Keystone Building. Once inside the Keystone use the elevator to take you down to the first floor, which is level with the central campus plaza.
- an elevator inside the Science Building can take you to an exit leading to approximately the bottom half of the switchback trail.
- an elevator inside the Dougan Building will take you to a first floor exit leading to a smaller ramp which will take you to the central campus plaza.
* The diamond parking lot is located on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 21st Street.
From Pacific Avenue
There are elevators leading to central campus:
- in the West Coast Grocery Building (entrance to the right of Next to Nature)
- in the UWT Bookstore located on pacific avenue near the lower entrance of the West Coast Grocery Building (ask a merchant for assistance)
- in the Cherry Parkes Building (entrance between both sides of the Indochine Restaurant
, elevator down the hall and to the left) - There is also a paved switchback trail leading up and down between Pacific Avenue and the central campus plaza located between the UWT Bookstore and Taco Del Mar (see campus map).
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Disability Parking
As of 2006 University owned disability parking spaces have been provided adjacent to the Pinkerton, Dougan, and Cherry Parkes Buildings. UWT also owns the Cragle Parking Lot adjacent to the Library where disability parking spaces are also provided.
All University owned disability parking spaces are available for a weekly or quarterly fee to UWT students, staff and faculty who have presented acceptable medical documentation of a temporary or permanent disability affecting mobility to one of the following offices:
Students
To receive disability parking as a student you must first qualify for assistance and register with Disability Support Services at UWT. Once registered with DSS, the student is given a signed form indicating eligibility to purchase a disability-parking permit that the student then takes to the UWT Cashier where the disability-parking permit is purchased.
PLEASE NOTE: Students wishing to purchase successive permits must remember to always first make an appointment with DSS so that a current form can be issued. Eligibility forms are time-limited. Current, signed and dated DSS forms are required by the Cashier before new disability parking permits can be purchased.
Employees
To receive disability parking as an Employee of UWT you may seek accommodations through the Disability Services Office (DSO) 
on the Seattle campus. Once documentation of a mobility-limiting condition is provided to DSO, a similar process as that for students is put into action. The UW Seattle Disability Services Office may be reached at:
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Any space that is designated for disability parking, whether or not it is in a parking lot owned by a private business, requires the proper disability permit for use. You could be subjected to a substantial parking violation fine issued by the Tacoma Police if you do not have a documented disability and disability license plates or a disability placard hanging from your rear-view mirror. |
Disability Services Office, Box 354560, (via campus mail)
(206) 543-6450 (voice)
(206) 543-6452 (TTY)
(206) 685-7264 (fax)
dso@u.washington.edu 
(e-mail)
Disability Services Office (website).
Through the Cashier's Office (MAT 354N), UWT provides an easier way for the campus community to purchase quarterly parking passes from Diamond Parking, which has parking lots within walking distance of campus, and the new Court 17 Parking Garage located off of South 17th and Market Streets. Both Diamond Parking on the corner of 21st Street and Jefferson Avenue, and the new Court 17 parking lots provide disability parking spaces. Please visit the campus map to view these parking lot locations.
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City Street Parking
Any driver with a documented disability and a disability placard hanging from his or her rear-view mirror (or disability license plates) is eligible for unlimited parking in all designated city street parking spaces. This applies to all city street parking spaces - whether or not the spaces are time-limited, for instance "One Hour Parking." Unlimited time does not apply to loading zones or designated non-parking zones. City parking does not guarantee wheelchair access spaces or nearby curb cuts.
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Safety Escort
For your safety, the University of Washington Tacoma encourages students, faculty, staff, and visitors to use the Campus Safety Escort Program. The service operates Monday through Thursday from 5:00pm to 10:30pm, except holidays, breaks and during Summer Quarter. The program is staffed with contracted security personnel. This service is free of charge to anyone who requests it. Dial #300 or #333 on a campus telephone and a Campus Safety Escort will walk you safely to your vehicle. If dialing from your cell phone, Campus Safety's direct number is (253) 692-4416.
Visit Campus Safety web site for further information.
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Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities
Please visit the Campus Safety Emergency Action Plan web page to learn about UWT's policies and procedures during times of emergency and disaster. Along with other important emergency information you will find a 15 page Assisting People With Disabilities In A Disaster 
handout. This handout will give you information regarding assisting our campus community members with disabilities during emergencies.
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Campus Address, Building and Site Maps
The University of Washington Tacoma is located in Tacoma's historic downtown warehouse district. The UWT campus meets or exceeds the accessibility design requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. Please visit the campus map to view detailed floor plans of each of our campus buildings, learn our address, and get directions to our campus.
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