Index: misc/progress.js
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/misc/progress.js,v
retrieving revision 1.25
diff -u -p -r1.25 progress.js
--- misc/progress.js	17 Aug 2009 07:12:15 -0000	1.25
+++ misc/progress.js	20 Nov 2009 04:33:12 -0000
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ Drupal.progressBar = function (id, updat
   this.updateCallback = updateCallback;
   this.errorCallback = errorCallback;
 
-  this.element = $('<div class="progress"></div>').attr('id', id);
+  // The WAI-ARIA setting aria-live="polite" will announce changes after users
+  // have completed their current activity and not interrupt the screen reader.
+  this.element = $('<div class="progress" aria-live="polite"></div>').attr('id', id);
   this.element.html('<div class="bar"><div class="filled"></div></div>' +
                     '<div class="percentage"></div>' +
                     '<div class="message">&nbsp;</div>');