diff --git a/core/modules/edit/css/edit.css b/core/modules/edit/css/edit.css
index b270165..7cc1732 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/css/edit.css
+++ b/core/modules/edit/css/edit.css
@@ -362,8 +362,9 @@
   display: block;
   float: left;
 }
-.edit-toolbar a span.close {
+.edit-toolbar span.close  {
   background: url('../images/close.png') no-repeat 3px 2px;
+  text-indent: -999em;
 }
 
 .edit-toolbar a.blank-button {
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/edit.module b/core/modules/edit/edit.module
index dd4feaf..94e7b24 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/edit.module
+++ b/core/modules/edit/edit.module
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ function edit_toolbar() {
             'href' => request_path(),
             'fragment' => 'view',
             'attributes' => array(
+              'title' => t('Exit quick edit mode.'),
+              'role' => 'button',
               'class' => array('edit_view-edit-toggle', 'edit-view'),
             ),
           ),
@@ -97,6 +99,8 @@ function edit_toolbar() {
             'href' => request_path(),
             'fragment' => 'quick-edit',
             'attributes' => array(
+              'title' => t('Enter quick edit mode.'),
+              'role' => 'button',
               'class' => array('edit_view-edit-toggle', 'edit-edit'),
             ),
           ),
@@ -218,6 +222,7 @@ function edit_preprocess_field(&$variables) {
     // Mark this field as editable and provide metadata through data- attributes.
     $variables['attributes']['data-edit-field-label'] = $instance->definition['label'];
     $variables['attributes']['data-edit-id'] = $entity->entityType() . ':' . $entity->id() . ':' . $field_name . ':' . $langcode . ':' . $view_mode;
+    $variables['attributes']['aria-label'] = t('Edit entity @type @id, field @field', array('@type' => $entity->entityType(), '@id' => $entity->id(), '@field' => $instance->definition['label']));
     $variables['attributes']['class'][] = 'edit-field';
     $variables['attributes']['class'][] = 'edit-allowed';
     $variables['attributes']['class'][] = 'edit-type-' . $editor;
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/app.js b/core/modules/edit/js/app.js
index c5d5be5..4daa65a 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/app.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/app.js
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@
       this.$entityElements.each(function() {
         $(this).createEditable('setState', newState);
       });
+      // Manage the page's tab indexes.
+      if (newState === 'candidate') {
+        this._manageDocumentFocus();
+        Drupal.edit.setMessage(Drupal.t('In place edit mode is active'), Drupal.t('Page navigation is limited to editable items.'), Drupal.t('Press escape to exit'));
+      }
+      else {
+        this._releaseDocumentFocusManagement();
+        Drupal.edit.setMessage(Drupal.t('Edit mode is inactive.'), Drupal.t('Resume normal page navigation'));
+      }
     },
 
     /**
@@ -269,6 +278,7 @@
       // Keep track of the active editor in the global state.
       if (_.indexOf(this.activeEditorStates, to) !== -1 && this.model.get('activeEditor') !== editor) {
         this.model.set('activeEditor', editor);
+        Drupal.edit.setMessage(Drupal.t('An editor is active'));
       }
       else if (this.model.get('activeEditor') === editor && to === 'candidate') {
         this.model.set('activeEditor', null);
@@ -312,6 +322,139 @@
         editor.decorationView.stateChange(data.previous, data.current);
         editor.toolbarView.stateChange(data.previous, data.current);
       });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Makes elements other than the editables unreachable via the tab key.
+     *
+     * @todo refactoring.
+     *
+     * This method is currently overloaded, handling elements of state modeling
+     * and application control. The state of the application is spread between
+     * this view, its model and aspects of the UI widgets in Create.js. In order
+     * to drive focus management from the application state (and have it
+     * influence that state of the application), we need to distall state out
+     * of Create.js components.
+     *
+     * This method introduces behaviors that support accessibility of the edit
+     * application. Although not yet integrated into the application properly,
+     * it does provide us with the opportunity to collect feedback from
+     * users who will interact with edit primarily through keyboard input. We
+     * want this feedback sooner than we can have a refactored application.
+     */
+    _manageDocumentFocus: function () {
+      var editablesSelector = '.edit-candidate.edit-editable';
+      var inputsSelector = 'a:visible, button:visible, input:visible, textarea:visible, select:visible';
+      var $editables = $(editablesSelector)
+        .attr({
+          'tabindex': 0,
+          'role': 'button'
+        });
+      // Store the first editable in the set.
+      var $currentEditable;
+      // We're using simple function scope to manage 'this' for the internal
+      // handler, so save this as that.
+      var that = this;
+      // Turn on focus management.
+      $(document).on('keydown.edit', function (event) {
+        var activeEditor, editableEntity, predicate;
+        // Handle esc key press. Close any active editors.
+        if (event.keyCode === 27) {
+          event.preventDefault();
+          activeEditor = that.model.get('activeEditor');
+          if (activeEditor) {
+            editableEntity = activeEditor.options.widget;
+            predicate = activeEditor.options.property;
+            editableEntity.setState('candidate', predicate, { reason: 'overlay' });
+          }
+          else {
+            $(editablesSelector).trigger('tabOut.edit');
+            // This should move into the state management for the app model.
+            location.hash = "#view";
+            that.model.set('isViewing', true);
+          }
+          return;
+        }
+        // Handle enter or space key presses.
+        if (event.keyCode === 13 || event.keyCode === 32) {
+          if ($currentEditable && $currentEditable.is(editablesSelector)) {
+            $currentEditable.trigger('click');
+            // Squelch additional handlers.
+            event.preventDefault();
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+        // Handle tab key presses.
+        if (event.keyCode === 9) {
+          var context = '';
+          // Include the view mode toggle with the editables selector.
+          var selector = editablesSelector + ', .edit_view-edit-toggle.edit-view';
+          activeEditor = that.model.get('activeEditor');
+          var $confirmDialog = $('#edit_modal');
+          // If the edit modal is active, that is the tabbing context.
+          if ($confirmDialog.length) {
+            context = $confirmDialog;
+            selector = inputsSelector;
+            if (!$currentEditable.length || $currentEditable.is(editablesSelector)) {
+              $currentEditable = $(selector, context).eq(-1);
+            }
+          }
+          // If an editor is active, then the tabbing context is the editor and
+          // its toolbar.
+          else if (activeEditor) {
+            context = $(activeEditor.$formContainer).add(activeEditor.toolbarView.$el);
+            // Include the view mode toggle with the editables selector.
+            selector = inputsSelector + ', .edit_view-edit-toggle.edit-view';
+            if (!$currentEditable.length || $currentEditable.is(editablesSelector)) {
+              $currentEditable = $(selector, context).eq(-1);
+            }
+          }
+          // Otherwise the tabbing context is the list of editable predicates.
+          var $editables = $(selector, context);
+          if (!$currentEditable) {
+            $currentEditable = $editables.eq(-1);
+          }
+          var count = $editables.length - 1;
+          var index = $editables.index($currentEditable);
+          console.log(index + " of " + count);
+          // Navigate backwards.
+          if (event.shiftKey) {
+            // Beginning of the set, loop to the end.
+            if (index === 0) {
+              index = count;
+            }
+            else {
+              index -= 1;
+            }
+          }
+          // Navigate forewards.
+          else {
+            // End of the set, loop to the start.
+            if (index === count) {
+              index = 0;
+            }
+            else {
+              index += 1;
+            }
+          }
+          // Tab out of the current editable.
+          $currentEditable.trigger('tabOut.edit');
+          // Update the current editable.
+          $currentEditable = $editables
+            .eq(index)
+            .focus()
+            .trigger('tabIn.edit');
+          // Squelch additional handlers.
+          event.preventDefault();
+          event.stopPropagation();
+        }
+      });
+    },
+    /**
+     * Removes key management and edit accessibility features from the DOM.
+     */
+    _releaseDocumentFocusManagement: function () {
+      $(document).off('keydown.edit');
+      $('.edit-candidate.edit-editable').removeAttr('tabindex role');
     }
   });
 
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/createjs/editingWidgets/formwidget.js b/core/modules/edit/js/createjs/editingWidgets/formwidget.js
index 9a5153d..f7c77cd 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/createjs/editingWidgets/formwidget.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/createjs/editingWidgets/formwidget.js
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
       this.$formContainer
         .find('.edit-form')
         .addClass('edit-editable edit-highlighted edit-editing')
+        .attr('role', 'dialog')
         .css('background-color', $editorElement.css('background-color'));
 
       // Insert form container in DOM.
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/edit.js b/core/modules/edit/js/edit.js
index 2c42068..e208c34 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/edit.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/edit.js
@@ -6,11 +6,24 @@
 
 "use strict";
 
+/**
+ * The edit ARIA live message area.
+ *
+ * @todo Eventually the messages area should be converted into a Backbone View
+ * that will respond to changes in the application's model. For the initial
+ * implementation, we will call the Drupal.edit.setMessage method when an aural
+ * message should be read by the user agent.
+ */
+var $messages;
+
 Drupal.edit = Drupal.edit || {};
 
 Drupal.behaviors.editDiscoverEditables = {
   attach: function(context) {
-    // @todo BLOCKED_ON(VIE.js, how to let VIE know that some content was removed and how to scan new content for VIE entities, to make them editable?)
+    // @todo BLOCKED_ON(VIE.js, how to let VIE know that some content was
+    // removed and how to scan new content for VIE entities, to make them
+    // editable?)
+    //
     // Also see ToolbarView.save().
     // We need to separate the discovery of editables if we want updated
     // or new content (added by code other than Edit) to be detected
@@ -35,6 +48,9 @@ Drupal.behaviors.edit = {
 };
 
 Drupal.edit.init = function() {
+  // Append a messages element for appending interaction updates for screen
+  // readers.
+  $messages = $(Drupal.theme('editMessageBox')).appendTo(this);
   // Instantiate EditAppView, which is the controller of it all. EditAppModel
   // instance tracks global state (viewing/editing in-place).
   var appModel = new Drupal.edit.models.EditAppModel();
@@ -52,4 +68,42 @@ Drupal.edit.init = function() {
   Backbone.history.start();
 };
 
+/**
+ * Places the message in the edit ARIA live message area.
+ *
+ * The message will be read by speaking User Agents.
+ *
+ * @param {String} message
+ *   A string to be inserted into the message area.
+ */
+Drupal.edit.setMessage = function (message) {
+  var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
+  args.unshift('editMessage');
+  $messages.html(Drupal.theme.apply(this, args));
+}
+
+/**
+ * A region to post messages that a screen reading UA will announce.
+ *
+ * @return {String}
+ *   A string representing a DOM fragment.
+ */
+Drupal.theme.editMessageBox = function () {
+  return '<div id="edit-messages" class="element-invisible" role="region" aria-live="polite"></div>';
+};
+
+/**
+ * Wrap message strings in p tags.
+ *
+ * @return {String}
+ *   A string representing a DOM fragment.
+ */
+Drupal.theme.editMessage = function () {
+  var messages = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
+  var output = '';
+  for (var i = 0; i < messages.length; i++) {
+   output += '<p>' + messages[i] + '</p>';
+  }
+  return output;
+};
 })(jQuery, Backbone, Drupal);
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/theme.js b/core/modules/edit/js/theme.js
index f92c308..8e154fe 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/theme.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/theme.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Drupal.theme.editBackstage = function(settings) {
 Drupal.theme.editModal = function(settings) {
   var classes = 'edit-animate-slow edit-animate-invisible edit-animate-delay-veryfast';
   var html = '';
-  html += '<div id="edit_modal" class="' + classes + '">';
+  html += '<div id="edit_modal" class="' + classes + '" role="dialog">';
   html += '  <div class="main"><p></p></div>';
   html += '  <div class="actions"></div>';
   html += '</div>';
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/views/modal-view.js b/core/modules/edit/js/views/modal-view.js
index c5d91ab..13bf38d 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/views/modal-view.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/views/modal-view.js
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ Drupal.edit.views.ModalView = Backbone.View.extend({
     setTimeout(function() {
       that.$el.removeClass('edit-animate-invisible');
     }, 0);
+
+    Drupal.edit.setMessage(Drupal.t('Confirmation dialog open'));
   },
 
   /**
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/views/propertyeditordecoration-view.js b/core/modules/edit/js/views/propertyeditordecoration-view.js
index 7d8a27c..269259a 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/views/propertyeditordecoration-view.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/views/propertyeditordecoration-view.js
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ Drupal.edit.views.PropertyEditorDecorationView = Backbone.View.extend({
 
   events: {
     'mouseenter.edit' : 'onMouseEnter',
-    'mouseleave.edit' : 'onMouseLeave'
+    'mouseleave.edit' : 'onMouseLeave',
+    'tabIn.edit': 'onMouseEnter',
+    'tabOut.edit': 'onMouseLeave'
   },
 
   /**
diff --git a/core/modules/edit/js/views/toolbar-view.js b/core/modules/edit/js/views/toolbar-view.js
index 4b8235c..a48ea28 100644
--- a/core/modules/edit/js/views/toolbar-view.js
+++ b/core/modules/edit/js/views/toolbar-view.js
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ Drupal.edit.views.ToolbarView = Backbone.View.extend({
         classes: 'ops',
         buttons: [
           { label: Drupal.t('Save'), classes: 'field-save save gray-button' },
-          { label: '<span class="close"></span>', classes: 'field-close close gray-button' }
+          { label: '<span class="close">' + Drupal.t('Close') + '</span>', classes: 'field-close close gray-button' }
         ]
       }));
     this.show('ops');