diff --git a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTree.java b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTree.java
index 94b61de117..ea7a2e187a 100644
--- a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTree.java
+++ b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTree.java
@@ -455,7 +455,9 @@ interface BasicStyle extends Style {
   }
 
   interface Template extends SafeHtmlTemplates {
-    @Template("<div class=\"{0}\" style=\"{1}position:absolute;\">{2}</div>")
+    // The open/closed/loading image is decorative; aria-expanded conveys the open/closed state.
+    @Template("<div class=\"{0}\" style=\"{1}position:absolute;\" aria-hidden=\"true\">"
+        + "{2}</div>")
     SafeHtml imageWrapper(String classes, SafeStyles cssLayout, SafeHtml image);
   }
 
diff --git a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeNodeView.java b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeNodeView.java
index 878d80a916..fa09a7e7ab 100644
--- a/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeNodeView.java
+++ b/user/src/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeNodeView.java
@@ -1170,6 +1170,11 @@ Element ensureAnimationFrame() {
   Element ensureChildContainer() {
     if (childContainer == null) {
       childContainer = Document.get().createDivElement();
+      // Nested items need a group between them and their parent item; the root's
+      // children are owned by the tree element itself.
+      if (!isRootNode()) {
+        Roles.getGroupRole().set(childContainer);
+      }
       ensureContentContainer().insertFirst(childContainer);
     }
     return childContainer;
diff --git a/user/test/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeTest.java b/user/test/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeTest.java
index 229a7e68ea..11d67a6bb3 100644
--- a/user/test/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeTest.java
+++ b/user/test/com/google/gwt/user/cellview/client/CellTreeTest.java
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 import com.google.gwt.cell.client.AbstractCell;
 import com.google.gwt.cell.client.TextCell;
+import com.google.gwt.dom.client.Document;
+import com.google.gwt.dom.client.Element;
 import com.google.gwt.event.dom.client.KeyCodes;
 import com.google.gwt.safehtml.shared.SafeHtmlBuilder;
 import com.google.gwt.user.client.ui.RootPanel;
@@ -267,6 +269,55 @@ public void testAriaAttributes() {
     assertEquals("5", cViewChildLast.getElement().getAttribute("aria-setsize"));
   }
 
+  public void testChildContainerRoles() {
+    CellTree cellTree = (CellTree) tree;
+    TreeNode node = cellTree.getRootTreeNode();
+    while (!node.isChildLeaf(0)) {
+      node = node.setChildOpen(0, true);
+    }
+
+    // Top-level items are owned by the tree itself.
+    CellTreeNodeView<?> view = cellTree.rootNode.getChildNode(0);
+    assertEquals(cellTree.getElement(), getClosestRoleAncestor(view.getElement()));
+
+    // Nested items, expandable or leaf, sit in a group owned by their parent item.
+    while (view.getChildCount() > 0) {
+      view = view.getChildNode(0);
+      Element group = getClosestRoleAncestor(view.getElement());
+      assertEquals("group", group.getAttribute("role"));
+      assertEquals(view.getParentNode().getElement(), getClosestRoleAncestor(group));
+    }
+    assertTrue(view.isLeaf());
+  }
+
+  public void testExpandImagesHiddenFromAssistiveTech() {
+    CellTree cellTree = (CellTree) tree;
+    TreeNode rootNode = cellTree.getRootTreeNode();
+    // Reading the child count flushes the pending render of the opened node's children.
+    assertTrue(rootNode.setChildOpen(0, true).getChildCount() > 0);
+    CellTreeNodeView<?> aView = cellTree.rootNode.getChildNode(0);
+    assertEquals("true", aView.getImageElement().getAttribute("aria-hidden"));
+    CellTreeNodeView<?> aViewChild = aView.getChildNode(0);
+    // A leaf renders a placeholder div instead of the closed image.
+    assertFalse(aViewChild.isLeaf());
+    assertEquals("true", aViewChild.getImageElement().getAttribute("aria-hidden"));
+
+    rootNode.setChildOpen(0, false);
+    assertEquals("true", aView.getImageElement().getAttribute("aria-hidden"));
+
+    Element loading = Document.get().createDivElement();
+    loading.setInnerSafeHtml(cellTree.getLoadingImageHtml());
+    assertEquals("true", loading.getFirstChildElement().getAttribute("aria-hidden"));
+  }
+
+  private static Element getClosestRoleAncestor(Element elem) {
+    Element parent = elem.getParentElement();
+    while (parent != null && parent.getAttribute("role").isEmpty()) {
+      parent = parent.getParentElement();
+    }
+    return parent;
+  }
+
   public void testExplicitKeyboardSelection() {
     CellTree cellTree = (CellTree) tree;
     TreeNode root = cellTree.getRootTreeNode();