TL;DR: 1) Verify it's real, 2) Scan your site to see violations, 3) Get them fixed professionally, 4) Document everything, 5) Respond showing good faith effort. Do this in 30 days and you'll probably avoid a lawsuit.

You got an ADA demand letter about your website. You've read it. You're worried.

Now what?

Here's your exact step-by-step action plan for the next 30 days.

Your 30-Day Action Plan

Days 1-3: Verify and Understand

Step 1: Verify the letter is legitimate

Don't assume it's spam or a scam. Most ADA demand letters are real.

How to verify:

Google the law firm name
Check if they practice accessibility law
Look up the attorney's bar number
Call the firm to confirm they sent it (use number from their website, not the letter)

Step 2: Read the letter carefully

Understand exactly what they're claiming:

Who is the plaintiff?
What disability do they have?
What specific violations are listed?
Which pages on your site have issues?
What's the deadline to respond?
Are they demanding a settlement amount?

Step 3: Don't respond emotionally

Don't:

Fire off an angry email
Ignore it hoping it goes away
Post about it on social media
Tell them to go to hell

Do:

Take a breath
Recognize this is a business problem with a business solution
Understand you have options

Days 3-7: Assess the Damage

Step 4: Run an accessibility scan

Find out if the violations they're claiming are actually real.

Use a free scanner (like the one on this site) to check:

Your homepage
Key pages they mentioned
Your full site

Most demand letters list accurate violations. You'll probably see:

Images without alt text
Low color contrast
Forms without proper labels
Videos without captions
Keyboard navigation issues

Step 5: Understand the scope

How bad is it really?

Minor issues (fixable in days):

10-30 violations
Mostly alt text and contrast
Simple forms
Basic website structure

Moderate issues (fixable in 1-2 weeks):

30-70 violations
Multiple forms
Shopping cart or checkout
Custom interactive elements

Major issues (fixable in 2-4 weeks):

70+ violations
Complex web application
Custom JavaScript
Video platform
Full site restructuring needed

Step 6: Get quotes

Contact 2-3 accessibility consultants:

Show them the demand letter
Send them your scan results
Ask for quotes and timelines

Typical costs:

Small site: $2,000-$4,000
Medium site: $4,000-$8,000
Large/complex site: $8,000-$15,000

Days 7-14: Make a Decision

Step 7: Choose your approach

You have three main options:

Option A: Fix it and respond (recommended)

Cost: $2,000-$8,000
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Outcome: Case likely closes

Option B: Settle and fix

Cost: $7,000-$23,000 (includes settlement)
Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Outcome: Clean closure

Option C: Fight it or ignore it (very expensive)

Cost: $67,000-$233,000
Timeline: 6-18 months
Outcome: You lose anyway

For most businesses, Option A makes the most sense.

Step 8: Hire an accessibility consultant

Don't try to fix this yourself unless you're a developer who understands WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Don't:

Install an accessibility overlay plugin (doesn't actually fix issues)
Have your nephew who "knows computers" do it
Use automated fixes without manual review

Do:

Hire someone who specializes in accessibility remediation
Ask for references
Get a written quote and timeline
Ensure they understand WCAG 2.1 Level AA

Days 14-21: Fix the Violations

Step 9: Start remediation

Your consultant will fix:

Alt text - Add descriptions to all images
Color contrast - Adjust text/background colors
Form labels - Properly label all form fields
Keyboard navigation - Ensure site works without a mouse
ARIA attributes - Add semantic meaning for assistive tech
Video captions - Add or verify captions exist

Step 10: Document everything

Keep detailed records:

What violations existed
What was fixed and when
Who did the work
Before/after screenshots
Test results showing compliance

This documentation matters if:

The case goes to court
They claim you didn't fix everything
You need to prove good faith effort

Days 21-30: Respond

Step 11: Prepare your response

Draft a response to the law firm showing:

What you did:

"We received your letter on [date]"
"We immediately conducted an accessibility audit"
"We hired [consultant name] to remediate all violations"
"The following issues have been fixed: [list]"

Evidence of compliance:

Attach accessibility audit report
Include before/after test results
Show WCAG 2.1 AA compliance

Ongoing commitment:

"We are committed to maintaining accessibility"
"We have implemented [ongoing monitoring/testing]"
"We will address any future issues promptly"

Step 12: Send the response

Send via:

Email (if they provided one)
Certified mail (to the address on the letter)
Keep proof of delivery

Include:

Your response letter
Accessibility audit report
Documentation of fixes
Contact info for follow-up

Days 30-45: Negotiate If Needed

Step 13: Handle settlement discussions

After you respond, they might:

Option 1: Close the case

"Thank you for remediating. Case closed."
No further action needed
You're done

Option 2: Request a small settlement

"We'd like $2,000-$5,000 to close the case"
Negotiate if you want
Sometimes worth it to avoid any risk

Option 3: Claim more work is needed

"You didn't fix everything"
Ask for specifics
Fix additional issues
Provide updated documentation

Option 4: File lawsuit anyway

Rare if you've shown good faith effort
Get a lawyer immediately
Continue remediation (it helps your case)

What If You Can't Afford to Fix It Right Now?

Option 1: Prioritize critical issues

Fix the most serious violations first:

Forms that completely don't work
Images on key pages
Critical user flows (checkout, booking, etc.)

Ask your consultant: "What are the top 10 issues that prevent site use?"

Fix those immediately. Fix the rest over time.

Option 2: Show good faith effort

Respond to the letter explaining:

You're taking this seriously
You're fixing issues but need more time
Here's what you've fixed so far
Here's your timeline for the rest

Many law firms will accept this if you demonstrate real progress.

Option 3: Negotiate a payment plan

Some consultants offer payment plans for remediation work. Ask.

What If You Already Waited Too Long?

If you got the letter 6-8 weeks ago and haven't responded:

Act TODAY. You might still have time before they file a lawsuit.

Contact an accessibility consultant immediately
Start fixing violations THIS WEEK
Respond to the letter explaining you're actively remediating
Show progress, even if not complete

If they've already filed a lawsuit:

Get a lawyer immediately (you need legal representation)
Also hire an accessibility consultant to fix your site
Showing active remediation helps your case in court
Document everything

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Installing an overlay and thinking you're done

Accessibility overlays don't fix underlying code. Courts know this. Don't rely on them.

Mistake #2: Arguing with the law firm

"My site is fine!" "This is a shakedown!" "I don't believe this is real!"

Even if you feel that way, arguing doesn't help. Fix the site and move on.

Mistake #3: Fixing some issues but not all

If they listed 20 violations and you fixed 12, they'll point out you're still non-compliant.

Mistake #4: Not documenting your work

If you can't prove what you fixed, it's like you didn't fix it.

Mistake #5: Waiting until day 29 to start

Start immediately. Give yourself buffer time in case fixes take longer than expected.

The Bottom Line

What's the next step after getting an ADA demand letter?

Follow this 30-day plan:

Verify it's real (days 1-3)
Assess the damage (days 3-7)
Hire a consultant (days 7-14)
Fix the violations (days 14-21)
Respond with documentation (days 21-30)
Negotiate if needed (days 30-45)

If you do this, you'll probably avoid a lawsuit and resolve this for $2K-$13K instead of $67K-$233K.

The letter is your warning shot. Use it wisely.

Scan your website now - Start your 30-day action plan with a free accessibility scan

Don't wait until day 29. Start today.

What Is the Next Step After Getting an ADA Demand Letter?