diff --git a/src/patterns/OcAutocomplete.vue b/src/patterns/OcAutocomplete.vue
index 1b6b386db..d727444bb 100644
--- a/src/patterns/OcAutocomplete.vue
+++ b/src/patterns/OcAutocomplete.vue
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
   <div class="oc-autocomplete">
     <input
       class="oc-autocomplete-input"
+      autocomplete="off"
+      role="combobox"
+      aria-autocomplete="list"
+      :aria-expanded="ariaExpanded.toString()"
+      :aria-owns="$_ocAutocomplete_listboxId"
+      :aria-activedescendant="$_ocAutocomplete_optionId(highlighted)"
+      :aria-label="ariaLabel"
       v-model="input"
       :placeholder="placeholder"
       :disabled="disabled"
@@ -9,6 +16,7 @@
       @keydown.up.prevent="highlighted--"
       @keydown.down.prevent="highlighted++"
       @keydown.enter="$_ocAutocomplete_selectSuggestion"
+      @keydown.esc="$_ocAutocomplete_dropdown.hide"
     />
     <div hidden :id="$_ocAutocomplete_boundryId" />
     <div
@@ -18,9 +26,15 @@
       :uk-drop="'mode:click;delay-hide:0;toggle:#' + $_ocAutocomplete_boundryId"
       :id="$_ocAutocomplete_dropdownId"
     >
-      <ul class="oc-autocomplete-suggestion-list">
+      <ul class="oc-autocomplete-suggestion-list" role="listbox" :id="$_ocAutocomplete_listboxId">
         <template v-for="(item, i) in $_ocAutocomplete_matchesShown">
           <li
+            role="option"
+            :id="$_ocAutocomplete_optionId(i)"
+            :aria-posinset="i + 1"
+            :aria-setsize="$_ocAutocomplete_matchesShown.length"
+            :aria-selected="i === highlighted"
+            :aria-describedby="$_ocAutocomplete_descriptionId"
             :class="[
               'oc-autocomplete-suggestion',
               { 'oc-autocomplete-suggestion-selected': i === highlighted },
@@ -48,6 +62,7 @@
         </li>
       </ul>
     </div>
+    <div hidden :id="$_ocAutocomplete_descriptionId" v-text="ariaDescription" />
   </div>
 </template>
 <script>
@@ -62,6 +77,11 @@ import { uniqueId as _uniqueId } from "lodash"
  * and presenting the user a list of possible matches to the entered search term.
  *
  * The component supports single select only at the moment.
+ *
+ *  ## Accessibility
+ *  This component is built based on the [WAI-ARIA 1.1 Authoring Practice](https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria-practices/examples/combobox/aria1.1pattern/grid-combo.html) and [GOV.UK's implementation](https://alphagov.github.io/accessible-autocomplete/examples/) (their frontend team is considered an authority in accessibility community).
+ *
+ *  Please provide at least an accessible name via the `ariaLabel` prop. By default this component comes with a description to screen reader users on how to use this component (it is a thin line of when it is good to supply help text for screen reader users and [when it's just too verbose](https://adrianroselli.com/2019/10/stop-giving-control-hints-to-screen-readers.html)). This description text is `When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.  Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.` but can be overridden with the `ariaDescription` prop.
  */
 export default {
   name: "oc-autocomplete",
@@ -76,6 +96,22 @@ export default {
       type: String,
       required: false,
     },
+    /**
+     * Label (accessible name) of the input
+     */
+    ariaLabel: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+    /**
+     * Add a description of how to use this (complex) widget for screen reader users
+     */
+    ariaDescription: {
+      type: String,
+      required: false,
+      default:
+        "When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.  Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures.",
+    },
     /**
      * Informative text displayed right next to the spinner while loading data
      */
@@ -145,6 +181,8 @@ export default {
       input: "",
       highlighted: 0,
       expanded: false,
+      ariaExpanded: false,
+      activeDescendant: "",
       overflowingMatches: this.$_ocAutocomplete_matchesOverflowing,
     }
   },
@@ -155,6 +193,11 @@ export default {
         maxHeight = `calc(100vh - ${ddOffsetTop}px )`
 
       dd.style.maxHeight = maxHeight
+      this.ariaExpanded = true
+    })
+
+    UiKit.util.on(`#${this.$_ocAutocomplete_dropdownId}`, "hide", () => {
+      this.ariaExpanded = false
     })
   },
   computed: {
@@ -179,6 +222,12 @@ export default {
     $_ocAutocomplete_dropdownId() {
       return _uniqueId("oc-autocomplete-dropdown-")
     },
+    $_ocAutocomplete_listboxId() {
+      return _uniqueId("oc-autocomplete-listbox-")
+    },
+    $_ocAutocomplete_descriptionId() {
+      return _uniqueId("oc-autocomplete-description-")
+    },
     $_ocAutocomplete_boundryId() {
       return _uniqueId("oc-autocomplete-boundry-")
     },
@@ -234,6 +283,11 @@ export default {
         this.expanded = false
       }
     },
+    $_ocAutocomplete_optionId(i) {
+      const activeDescendantId = `oc-autocomplete-option-${i}`
+      this.activeDescendant = activeDescendantId
+      return this.ariaExpanded ? activeDescendantId : ""
+    },
     focus() {
       this.$refs.$_ocAutocompleteInput.focus()
     },