Got an ADA Website Demand Letter? What to Do in the First 7 Days
A demand letter about your website's accessibility can be stressful. Here are the practical steps to take in the first week, and the mistakes to avoid.
First, take a breath. Demand letters are common: thousands are sent to US businesses every year, and many come from firms that send large numbers of them. Receiving one doesn't mean you've lost anything yet. What you do in the next few days matters, and the most important step is to get proper legal advice.
What an ADA website demand letter usually says
A typical letter claims that a person with a disability, often someone who uses a screen reader, tried to use your website and couldn't, because of accessibility barriers. It usually lists a few examples, cites Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, asks you to fix the site, and asks for a payment to settle the claim, often with a deadline.
What to do in the first 7 days
1. Don't ignore it
Ignoring a letter can lead to a lawsuit being filed, which is usually more expensive to resolve. Note the deadline in the letter.
2. Talk to an attorney, ideally one who handles ADA website claims
This is the most important step. An attorney can tell you whether the claim is strong, whether the firm has a pattern of filings, how to respond, and what a reasonable outcome looks like. Many business attorneys can refer you to someone experienced with these claims.
3. Don't reply to the sender yourself
Let your attorney handle communication. Something you say informally, even an apology or promise, could affect how the matter unfolds.
4. Check your insurance
Some business insurance policies, such as general liability, cyber, or employment practices liability, may cover part of the defense costs. Ask your insurance agent, and do it early, because policies often require prompt notice.
5. Save everything
Keep the letter and envelope, note when it arrived, and don't delete website content or records related to the claim. Your attorney may need them.
6. Don't install a widget and assume it's solved
It's tempting to add an accessibility overlay the same day. But widgets don't fix the underlying code, and about 20% of companies sued in the first half of 2026 were already using one, according to UsableNet. Read why widgets don't protect you.
7. Get the real barriers identified
Whatever happens with the claim, your website still needs to work for everyone. A manual accessibility audit shows exactly what's wrong, including the issues named in the letter and ones it didn't mention. That gives your attorney facts to work with, and gives your developer a clear list of fixes.
Why fixing the site matters, even after settling
Settling a claim doesn't make your site accessible. More than 1,400 of the digital accessibility lawsuits filed in 2025 targeted companies that had faced a claim before, according to UsableNet. If the barriers are still there, another firm can send another letter. Fixing the site, and keeping records of the work, is the best protection going forward.
What a remediation plan looks like
- A manual audit of your key pages and user journeys, such as browsing, search, cart and checkout.
- A prioritized report, so the most serious barriers get fixed first.
- Fixes by your developer or web agency.
- A retest to confirm the fixes work with keyboards and screen readers.
- An accessibility statement on your site and a plan to keep testing when you change things.
How I can help
If you've received a demand letter, tell me when you get in touch and I'll prioritize your audit. I'm not a lawyer and can't advise on the claim itself, but I can give you and your attorney a clear, documented picture of your site's accessibility, and a report your developer can fix from. Contact me, or start with a free check below.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your legal obligations or a claim you have received, talk to an attorney.