Remediation vs. Retrofit vs. Rebuild: Strategic Accessibility

An accessibility demand letter arrived, or worse, a lawsuit. Now you need to fix your website. But how? You have three strategic options: quick fixes (remediation), comprehensive overhaul (retrofit), or complete rebuild. Each has different costs, timelines, and legal implications. Choosing the wrong strategy can cost millions.

Fix only the violations found in the lawsuit. Band-aid approach. Audit entire site, fix all accessibility violations systematically, maintain current architecture. Complete redesign and rebuild with accessibility-first approach from ground up.

Fix only the specific violations mentioned in the lawsuit or demand letter. Nothing more. Typical Remediation Budget: Fixed Violations (20-50 issues): Development time: 40-80 hours @ $150/hr = $6,000-$12,000 Testing & QA: 10 hours @ $150/hr = $1,500 Project management: 5 hours @ $100/hr = $500 TOTAL: $8,000-$14,000 Fast-track option (1 week): Additional rush fees: +$2,000-$5,000 TOTAL RUSH: $10,000-$19,000 One-time investment. No ongoing cost. Advantages Fast implementation Low cost Quick settlement signal Minimal disruption to site Demonstrates responsiveness Disadvantages Doesn't fix unstated violations (you WILL be sued again) Piecemeal fixes create technical debt Multiple bug fixes needed as overlays fail Users with disabilities still encounter barriers Doesn't solve underlying architectural issues High risk of lawsuits within 12 months Legal Risk High: Other violations remain unfixed Serial litigation: Expect more lawsuits Demonstrates inadequate accessibility commitment Settlement shows you knew about violations Courts may view remediation-only as bad faith Real-World Outcome Company fixes 10 violations in demand letter. Sued again 6 months later for 50 different violations on different pages. Total legal and remediation costs: $100,000+

Conduct a full accessibility audit of entire site. Fix all violations systematically while keeping current architecture and codebase. Typical Retrofit Budget (50-100 pages): Audit (professional VPAT): Manual + automated testing: $3,000-$7,000 Remediation (estimated 200+ violations): Development: 200-400 hours @ $150/hr = $30,000-$60,000 Testing & QA: 40 hours @ $150/hr = $6,000 Project management: 20 hours @ $150/hr = $3,000 Accessibility review: 30 hours @ $200/hr = $6,000 Content update (alt text, captions): 80-120 hours @ $75/hr = $6,000-$9,000 Conformance Report: VPAT or detailed documentation: $1,000-$3,000 TOTAL: $55,000-$94,000 (4-6 month project) Ongoing annual review: $3,000-$5,000/year Advantages Comprehensive - fixes 95%+ of violations Prevents serial litigation Demonstrates serious commitment Improves user experience for all users Better SEO and performance Creates maintainable code for future development Professional VPAT provides legal documentation Disadvantages More expensive than remediation Longer timeline (2-6 months) Requires hiring specialists (if not in-house) May require temporary site limitations during rollout Architectural debt may limit fixes on some features Legal Advantages Demonstrates systematic, good-faith effort Professional VPAT shows due diligence Comprehensive fix reduces future litigation Can support defense: "We audited and fixed everything" Documented remediation timeline shows good faith Real-World Outcome Company invests $75,000 in comprehensive retrofit. Settles lawsuit. No additional suits for 2+ years. Accessibility becomes competitive advantage.

Complete redesign and rebuild of website with accessibility-first approach from the ground up. Typical Rebuild Budget (100+ pages, complex): Design (accessibility-first): UX/UI design: 200-400 hours @ $150/hr = $30,000-$60,000 Development (WCAG 2.1 from ground up): Frontend/backend: 800-1,600 hours @ $200/hr = $160,000-$320,000 Testing & QA: 100-200 hours @ $150/hr = $15,000-$30,000 Content migration & updates: Alt text, captions, refactoring: 200-300 hours @ $75/hr = $15,000-$22,500 Accessibility review & certification: Professional audit + VPAT: $5,000-$10,000 Training (internal team): Accessibility best practices: 40-60 hours @ $150/hr = $6,000-$9,000 Project management & coordination: 12-18 month project: 100-150 hours @ $200/hr = $20,000-$30,000 TOTAL: $251,000-$481,500 (complex site) Smaller site (20-50 pages): $100,000-$150,000 Ongoing: Built into regular development cycle Advantages 100% accessibility compliance (if done right) Modern, maintainable code Accessibility baked into every decision Better performance and SEO Future-proofs against litigation for 3-5+ years Improves brand reputation Increases conversion (accessible sites convert better) Easier to maintain long-term Disadvantages Very expensive ($100k-$500k+) Long timeline (6-18 months) Risk of launch delays Requires significant upfront investment Team must learn accessibility best practices Business continuity during transition Legal Advantages Demonstrates maximum good-faith effort Courts view rebuild as serious commitment Prevents all future accessibility litigation (if done right) Shows company prioritizes accessibility Professional team involvement documented Real-World Outcome Fortune 500 company sued for ADA violations. Invests $300,000 in complete rebuild. Launches accessibility-first site. Dismisses existing lawsuits. Becomes industry leader in accessibility. Attracts accessibility-conscious users.

Regardless of initial approach, ongoing maintenance prevents regression: