diff --git a/src/base/constants.js b/src/base/constants.js
index b0add2d0e09..42267130ef0 100644
--- a/src/base/constants.js
+++ b/src/base/constants.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ var Constant = {
     ROLE : {
       BUTTON : 'button',
       CHECKBOX : 'checkbox',
+      DIALOG : 'dialog',
       LIST : 'list',
       LIST_ITEM : 'listitem',
       RADIO : 'radio',
diff --git a/src/base/utils.js b/src/base/utils.js
index 9d8f9e9a836..9de0a1f5b53 100644
--- a/src/base/utils.js
+++ b/src/base/utils.js
@@ -46,6 +46,18 @@ var Util = {
         return offset ? letter.toUpperCase() : letter;
       });
   },
+  /**
+   * Selects 'n' words from a string
+   * for use in an HTML attribute
+   */
+  stringFromTextBody: function stringFromTextBody(textBody, numWords) {
+    var string = textBody.trim();
+
+    if(string.split(/\s+/).length > numWords){
+      string = textBody.split(/\s+/).slice(1, (numWords + 1)).join(" ") + '...';
+    }
+    return string;
+  },
 
   /**
    * Spread the arguments as individual parameters to the target function.
diff --git a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
index 2dcc873d0b5..3525b4401e2 100644
--- a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
+++ b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
  */
 angular.module('material.components.dialog', [
   'material.animations',
-  'material.services.compiler'
+  'material.services.compiler',
+  'material.services.aria'
 ])
   .directive('materialDialog', [
     '$$rAF',
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ angular.module('material.components.dialog', [
     '$rootScope',
     '$materialEffects',
     '$animate',
+    '$aria',
     MaterialDialogService
   ]);
 
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ function MaterialDialogDirective($$rAF) {
  * <div ng-controller="MyController">
  *   <material-button ng-click="openDialog($event)">
  *     Open a Dialog from this button!
- *   </material-dialog>
+ *   </material-button>
  * </div>
  * </hljs>
  * <hljs lang="js">
@@ -102,7 +104,7 @@ function MaterialDialogDirective($$rAF) {
  * @param {element=} appendTo The element to append the dialog to. Defaults to appending
  *   to the root element of the application.
  */
-function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $materialCompiler, $rootElement, $rootScope, $materialEffects, $animate) {
+function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $materialCompiler, $rootElement, $rootScope, $materialEffects, $animate, $aria) {
   var recentDialog;
   var dialogParent = $rootElement.find('body');
   if ( !dialogParent.length ) {
@@ -144,6 +146,8 @@ function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $materialCompiler, $rootElement, $rootS
       var closeButton = findCloseButton();
       var backdrop;
 
+      configureAria(element.find('material-dialog'));
+
       if (options.hasBackdrop) {
         backdrop = angular.element('<material-backdrop class="opaque ng-enter">');
         $animate.enter(backdrop, options.appendTo, null);
@@ -188,6 +192,10 @@ function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $materialCompiler, $rootElement, $rootS
           scope.$destroy();
           scope = null;
           element = null;
+
+          if(popInTarget !== null) {
+            popInTarget.focus();
+          }
         });
       }
       function onRootElementKeyup(e) {
@@ -203,6 +211,24 @@ function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $materialCompiler, $rootElement, $rootS
       }
     });
 
+    /**
+     * Inject ARIA-specific attributes appropriate for Dialogs
+     */
+    function configureAria(element) {
+      var ROLE = Constant.ARIA.ROLE;
+
+      $aria.update(element, {
+        'role': ROLE.DIALOG
+      });
+
+      var dialogContent = element.find('.dialog-content');
+      if(dialogContent.length === 0){
+        dialogContent = element;
+      }
+      var defaultText = Util.stringFromTextBody(dialogContent.text(), 3);
+      $aria.expect(element, 'aria-label', defaultText);
+    }
+
     return recentDialog;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js b/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
index 1ba68b4f660..2d3bef7bc9d 100644
--- a/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
@@ -26,7 +26,22 @@ describe('$materialDialog', function() {
 
     var container = parent.find('.material-dialog-container');
     expect(container.length).toBe(1);
-    expect(container.html().trim()).toEqual(template);
+  }));
+
+  it('should have valid ARIA attributes', inject(function($materialDialog, $rootScope) {
+    var template = '<material-dialog>Hello</material-dialog>';
+    var parent = angular.element('<div>');
+
+    $materialDialog({
+      template: template,
+      appendTo: parent
+    });
+
+    $rootScope.$apply();
+
+    var dialog = parent.find('material-dialog');
+    expect(dialog.attr('role')).toBe('dialog');
+    expect(dialog.attr('aria-label')).toEqual(dialog.text());
   }));
 
   it('should escapeToClose == true', inject(function($materialDialog, $rootScope, $rootElement, $timeout, $materialEffects) {