tutorial on 508 compliance?

"The key to providing a sensible level of support for universal accessibility is in determining the performance

requirements for the task being trained. For example, if a task requires sight or hearing to perform, this activity will not, necessarily, provide an authentically accessible alternative. However, the solution will let the disabled user know that the specific task and associated activity require these abilities. The solution will also provide the opportunity to skip the activity."

Thanks for taking the time to explain the intent of the law, Steve. And I'm sure you're correct about people not taking the time to research the root and intention of the regulations. Maybe you can explain just a bit further to nail down a solution for me. Let's say I am creating an e-course which represents a virtual  Iaboratory, where the user will select tests, view colony growth and see images taken through a microscope to help determine the identity of a bacteria. While it may be true that a person with low vision could see with a properly adjusted microscope, there is much more to the entire task than this and such a disabled person could not perform this work. If the entire course is limited to this one task, i.e., identifying a bacteria ......or performing any other laboratory task for that matter, how would I provide the 'solution' you mention, of letting the disabled user know that certain abilities will be required for the specific task and also how do I 'provide the opportunity to skip the activity'? I can't see how or why such a person would  be accessing this course in the first place. Do I have to post a statement that notifies everyone who might find their way to the site, in a compliant manner, that this is the case?

It almost sounds like you're saying the law is intended to do what I originally mentioned, so that if a user would be unable to perform the task for which training is being provided, that training does not need to be accesible for those disabilities which would render the user unable to perform the task.

I appreciate any further clarification you can provide.

Thanks