diff --git a/core/modules/contextual/contextual.toolbar.js b/core/modules/contextual/contextual.toolbar.js
index df941b2..704bfdb 100644
--- a/core/modules/contextual/contextual.toolbar.js
+++ b/core/modules/contextual/contextual.toolbar.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /**
  * @file
- * Attaches behaviors for the Contextual module's "Edit" toolbar tab.
+ * Attaches behaviors for the Contextual module's edit toolbar tab.
  */
 
 (function ($, Backbone, Drupal, document, localStorage) {
@@ -8,20 +8,28 @@
 "use strict";
 
 /**
- * Attaches contextual's "Edit" toolbar tab behavior.
+ * Attaches contextual's edit toolbar tab behavior.
  *
  * Events
- * Contextual triggers a number of events that can be used by other scripts.
- * - drupalEditModeChanged: This event is triggered when the edit mode changes.
+ *   Contextual triggers an event that can be used by other scripts.
+ *   - drupalEditModeChanged: Triggered when the edit mode changes.
  */
 Drupal.behaviors.contextualToolbar = {
   attach: function (context) {
     $('body').once('contextualToolbar-init', function () {
+      var $contextuals = $(context).find('.contextual-links');
+      var $tab = $('.js .toolbar .bar .contextual-toolbar-tab');
       var model = new Drupal.contextualToolbar.models.EditToggleModel({
-        isViewing: (localStorage.getItem('Drupal.contextualToolbar.isViewing') === null) ? true : false
+        isViewing: (localStorage.getItem('Drupal.contextualToolbar.isViewing') === null) ? true : false,
+        '$contextuals': $contextuals
       });
-      var view = new Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleView({
-        el: $('.js .toolbar .bar .contextual-toolbar-tab'),
+      var visualView = new Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleVisualView({
+        el: $tab,
+        model: model
+      });
+      var auralView = new Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.editToggleAuralView({
+        // Append a messages element for aural state change announcements.
+        el: $(Drupal.theme('contextualMessageBox')).appendTo($tab),
         model: model
       });
 
@@ -34,8 +42,8 @@ Drupal.behaviors.contextualToolbar = {
           model.set('isVisible', true);
         });
 
-      // Update the model to show the "Edit" tab if there's >=1 contextual link.
-      if ($(context).find('.contextual-links').length > 0) {
+      // Update the model to show the edit tab if there's >=1 contextual link.
+      if ($contextuals.length > 0) {
         model.set('isVisible', true);
       }
 
@@ -50,7 +58,7 @@ Drupal.behaviors.contextualToolbar = {
 Drupal.contextualToolbar = Drupal.contextualToolbar || { models: {}, views: {}};
 
 /**
- * Backbone Model for the "Edit" toggle.
+ * Backbone Model for the edit toggle.
  */
 Drupal.contextualToolbar.models.EditToggleModel = Backbone.Model.extend({
   defaults: {
@@ -62,14 +70,14 @@ Drupal.contextualToolbar.models.EditToggleModel = Backbone.Model.extend({
 });
 
 /**
- * Backbone View to make the "Edit" toggle interactive.
+ * Handles edit mode toggle interactions.
  */
-Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleView = Backbone.View.extend({
+Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleVisualView = Backbone.View.extend({
 
   events: { 'click': 'onClick' },
 
   /**
-   * Implements Backbone Views' initialize() function.
+   * Implements Backbone Views' initialize().
    */
   initialize: function () {
     this.model.on('change', this.render, this);
@@ -77,9 +85,10 @@ Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleView = Backbone.View.extend({
   },
 
   /**
-   * Implements Backbone Views' render() function.
+   * Implements Backbone Views' render().
    */
   render: function () {
+    var args = arguments;
     // Render the visibility.
     this.$el.toggleClass('element-hidden', !this.model.get('isVisible'));
 
@@ -108,7 +117,42 @@ Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.EditToggleView = Backbone.View.extend({
     event.preventDefault();
     event.stopPropagation();
   }
+});
+
+/**
+ * Responds to edit mode changes by announcing the application state.
+ */
+Drupal.contextualToolbar.views.editToggleAuralView = Backbone.View.extend({
+  /**
+   * Implements Backbone Views' initialize().
+   */
+  initialize: function () {
+    this.model.on('change', this.render, this);
+  },
 
+  /**
+   * Implements Backbone Views' render().
+   */
+  render: function () {
+    var isViewing = this.model.get('isViewing');
+    // Inform aural users of state change.
+    var activatedText = Drupal.t('Edit mode is active. There are @count contextual link triggers. Tabbing will navigate between them.', {'@count': this.model.get('$contextuals').length});
+    var deactivatedText = Drupal.t('Edit mode is inactive');
+    this.$el
+      .text((!isViewing) ? activatedText : deactivatedText);
+
+    return this;
+  }
 });
 
+/**
+ * A region to post messages that a screen reading UA will announce.
+ *
+ * @return {String}
+ *   A string representing a DOM fragment.
+ */
+Drupal.theme.contextualMessageBox = function () {
+  return '<div id="contextual-messages" class="element-invisible" role="region" aria-live="polite"></div>';
+};
+
 })(jQuery, Backbone, Drupal, document, localStorage);