Accessibility Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, programs and services provided by state and local governments, goods and services provided by private companies, and in commercial facilities. 

The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990. It contains requirements for new construction, for alterations or renovations to buildings and facilities, and for improving access to existing facilities of private companies providing goods or services to the public. It also requires that State and local governments provide access to programs offered to the public. The ADA also covers effective communication with people with disabilities, eligibility criteria that may restrict or prevent access, and requires reasonable accommodation of policies and practices that may be discriminatory. 

Students are entitled to reasonable accommodations under provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those in need of such accommodations should notify their instructor and make appropriate arrangements with LATC’s Office of Disability Services, 882-5284, Ext. 399. Inquiries regarding compliance of Americans with Disabilities Act may contact the Special Needs Coordinator, Watertown School District 14-4, P.O. Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201. 

Use of Service Animals 

Lake Area Technical College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). Among other things, the ADA and Section 504 require Lake Area Tech to make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a Service Animal by a student, faculty, staff or visitor with a disability. 

Definition of Service Animal 

The ADA defines a Service Animal as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” Importantly, other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not Service Animals for the purposes of the ADA. 

When assessing whether a dog is a Service Animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, the dog must be trained to do work or perform tasks.