diff --git a/config/test-utils.js b/config/test-utils.js
index 6f56ab9e3e8..953bfbffc21 100644
--- a/config/test-utils.js
+++ b/config/test-utils.js
@@ -32,6 +32,23 @@ var TestUtil = {
     test.after(function() {
       angular.element.prototype.focus = focus;
     });
-  }
+  },
+
+  /**
+   * Create a fake version of $$rAF that does things asynchronously
+   */
+  mockRaf: function() {
+    module('ng', function($provide) {
+      $provide.value('$$rAF', mockRaf);
 
+      function mockRaf(cb) {
+        cb();
+      }
+      mockRaf.debounce = function(cb) {
+        return function() {
+          cb.apply(this, arguments);
+        };
+      };
+    });
+  }
 };
diff --git a/src/components/buttons/buttons.js b/src/components/buttons/buttons.js
index 1aea3b96062..7e373fb1fdb 100644
--- a/src/components/buttons/buttons.js
+++ b/src/components/buttons/buttons.js
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ function MaterialButtonDirective(ngHrefDirectives, $materialInkRipple, $material
         });
 
       return function postLink(scope, element, attr) {
-        $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', element.text());
+        $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', true);
         $materialInkRipple.attachButtonBehavior(element);
       };
     }
diff --git a/src/components/buttons/buttons.spec.js b/src/components/buttons/buttons.spec.js
index b1ae1122a8e..2d5df49b91b 100644
--- a/src/components/buttons/buttons.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/buttons/buttons.spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 describe('material-button', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
   beforeEach(module('material.components.button'));
 
   it('should have inner-anchor with attrs if href attr is given', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
diff --git a/src/components/buttons/demo1/index.html b/src/components/buttons/demo1/index.html
index f3b940798ca..d0cc1ad52fb 100644
--- a/src/components/buttons/demo1/index.html
+++ b/src/components/buttons/demo1/index.html
@@ -42,19 +42,19 @@
 
     <section layout="vertical" layout-sm="horizontal" layout-align="center center">
 
-        <material-button class="material-button-fab">
+        <material-button class="material-button-fab" aria-label="Time">
             <material-icon icon="/img/icons/ic_access_time_24px.svg" style="width: 24px; height: 24px;"></material-icon>
         </material-button>
 
-      <material-button class="material-button-fab">
+      <material-button class="material-button-fab" aria-label="New document">
         <material-icon icon="/img/icons/ic_insert_drive_file_24px.svg" style="width: 24px; height: 24px;"></material-icon>
       </material-button>
 
-        <material-button class="material-button-fab" disabled>
+        <material-button class="material-button-fab" disabled aria-label="Comment">
             <material-icon icon="/img/icons/ic_comment_24px.svg" style="width: 24px; height: 24px;"></material-icon>
         </material-button>
 
-        <material-button class="material-button-fab material-theme-light-blue">
+        <material-button class="material-button-fab material-theme-light-blue" aria-label="People">
             <material-icon icon="/img/icons/ic_people_24px.svg" style="width: 24px; height: 24px;"></material-icon>
         </material-button>
 
diff --git a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.js b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.js
index 1d2bc4fb8b5..58dd3777ed1 100644
--- a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.js
+++ b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.js
@@ -76,8 +76,6 @@ function MaterialCheckboxDirective(inputDirectives, $materialInkRipple, $materia
     tAttrs.tabIndex = 0;
     tElement.attr('role', tAttrs.type);
 
-    $materialAria.expect(tElement, 'aria-label', tElement.text());
-
     return function postLink(scope, element, attr, ngModelCtrl) {
       var checked = false;
 
@@ -90,6 +88,8 @@ function MaterialCheckboxDirective(inputDirectives, $materialInkRipple, $materia
         $formatters: []
       };
 
+      $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', true);
+
       // Reuse the original input[type=checkbox] directive from Angular core.
       // This is a bit hacky as we need our own event listener and own render
       // function.
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ function MaterialCheckboxDirective(inputDirectives, $materialInkRipple, $materia
 
       function render() {
         checked = ngModelCtrl.$viewValue;
-        // element.attr('aria-checked', checked);
         if(checked) {
           element.addClass(CHECKED_CSS);
         } else {
diff --git a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.spec.js b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.spec.js
index 93ebfd0de67..b1b54b60069 100644
--- a/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/checkbox/checkbox.spec.js
@@ -4,6 +4,29 @@ describe('materialCheckbox', function() {
 
   beforeEach(module('material.components.checkbox'));
   beforeEach(module('ngAria'));
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
+
+  it('should warn developers they need a label', inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $log){
+    spyOn($log, "warn");
+    var element = $compile('<div>' +
+                             '<material-checkbox ng-model="blue">' +
+                             '</material-checkbox>' +
+                           '</div>')($rootScope);
+
+    var cbElements = element.find('material-checkbox');
+    expect($log.warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
+
+  it('should copy text content to aria-label', inject(function($compile, $rootScope){
+    var element = $compile('<div>' +
+                             '<material-checkbox ng-model="blue">' +
+                             'Some text' +
+                             '</material-checkbox>' +
+                           '</div>')($rootScope);
+
+    var cbElements = element.find('material-checkbox');
+    expect(cbElements.eq(0).attr('aria-label')).toBe('Some text');
+  }));
 
   it('should set checked css class and aria-checked attributes', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
     var element = $compile('<div>' +
diff --git a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
index 2c21ba54b8d..e982a1a1ce3 100644
--- a/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
+++ b/src/components/dialog/dialog.js
@@ -247,6 +247,6 @@ function MaterialDialogService($timeout, $rootElement, $materialEffects, $animat
       dialogContent = element;
     }
     var defaultText = Util.stringFromTextBody(dialogContent.text(), 3);
-    $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', defaultText);
+    $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', true, defaultText);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js b/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
index 73a277d9771..32a39b800a3 100644
--- a/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/dialog/dialog.spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 describe('$materialDialog', function() {
   
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
   beforeEach(module('material.components.dialog', 'ngAnimateMock'));
 
   beforeEach(inject(function spyOnMaterialEffects($materialEffects, $$q, $animate) {
diff --git a/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.js b/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.js
index 89ecdd2f7fe..6dabd429a55 100644
--- a/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.js
+++ b/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.js
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ function materialRadioButtonDirective($materialAria) {
         'aria-checked' : 'false'
       });
 
-      $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', element.text());
+      $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', true);
 
       /**
        * Build a unique ID for each radio button that will be used with aria-activedescendant.
diff --git a/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.spec.js b/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.spec.js
index ba7b6afa9b1..b2f9e0f47e8 100644
--- a/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/radioButton/radioButton.spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 describe('radioButton', function() {
   var CHECKED_CSS = 'material-checked';
 
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
   beforeEach(module('material.components.radioButton'));
 
   it('should set checked css class', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ describe('radioButton', function() {
     expect(rbGroupElement.find('material-radio-button').eq(0).attr('role')).toEqual('radio');
   }));
 
-  it('should set aria attributes', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+  it('should set aria states', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
     var element = $compile('<material-radio-group ng-model="color">' +
                             '<material-radio-button value="blue"></material-radio-button>' +
                             '<material-radio-button value="green"></material-radio-button>' +
@@ -50,6 +51,26 @@ describe('radioButton', function() {
     expect(element.attr('aria-activedescendant')).not.toEqual(rbElements.eq(0).attr('id'));
   }));
 
+  it('should warn developers they need a label', inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $log){
+    spyOn($log, "warn");
+    var element = $compile('<material-radio-group ng-model="color">' +
+                            '<material-radio-button value="blue"></material-radio-button>' +
+                            '<material-radio-button value="green"></material-radio-button>' +
+                          '</material-radio-group>')($rootScope);
+
+    expect($log.warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  }));
+
+  it('should create an aria label from provided text', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
+    var element = $compile('<material-radio-group ng-model="color">' +
+                            '<material-radio-button value="blue">Blue</material-radio-button>' +
+                            '<material-radio-button value="green">Green</material-radio-button>' +
+                          '</material-radio-group>')($rootScope);
+
+    var rbElements = element.find('material-radio-button');
+    expect(rbElements.eq(0).attr('aria-label')).toEqual('Blue');
+  }));
+
   it('should be operable via arrow keys', inject(function($compile, $rootScope) {
     var element = $compile('<material-radio-group ng-model="color">' +
                             '<material-radio-button value="blue"></material-radio-button>' +
diff --git a/src/components/slider/slider.js b/src/components/slider/slider.js
index 26d7c994a5c..b9f4df04a12 100644
--- a/src/components/slider/slider.js
+++ b/src/components/slider/slider.js
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ function SliderController(scope, element, attr, $$rAF, $window, $materialEffects
     var trackContainer = angular.element(element[0].querySelector('.slider-track-container'));
     var activeTrack = angular.element(element[0].querySelector('.slider-track-fill'));
     var tickContainer = angular.element(element[0].querySelector('.slider-track-ticks'));
+    var throttledRefreshDimensions = Util.throttle(refreshSliderDimensions, 5000);
 
     // Default values, overridable by attrs
     attr.min ? attr.$observe('min', updateMin) : updateMin(0);
@@ -122,7 +123,8 @@ function SliderController(scope, element, attr, $$rAF, $window, $materialEffects
       updateAriaDisabled(!!attr.disabled);
     }
 
-    $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label');
+    $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', false);
+
     element.attr('tabIndex', 0);
     element.attr('role', 'slider');
     element.on('keydown', keydownListener);
@@ -209,7 +211,6 @@ function SliderController(scope, element, attr, $$rAF, $window, $materialEffects
      * Refreshing Dimensions
      */
     var sliderDimensions = {};
-    var throttledRefreshDimensions = Util.throttle(refreshSliderDimensions, 5000);
     refreshSliderDimensions();
     function refreshSliderDimensions() {
       sliderDimensions = trackContainer[0].getBoundingClientRect();
diff --git a/src/components/slider/slider.spec.js b/src/components/slider/slider.spec.js
index b3868b98389..e49934a2e6e 100644
--- a/src/components/slider/slider.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/slider/slider.spec.js
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ describe('material-slider', function() {
     };
   }
 
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
+  beforeEach(module('ngAria'));
   beforeEach(module('material.components.slider','material.decorators'));
 
   it('should set model on press', inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $timeout) {
@@ -93,4 +95,18 @@ describe('material-slider', function() {
     expect($rootScope.model).toBe(100);
   }));
 
+  it('should warn developers they need a label', inject(function($compile, $rootScope, $timeout, $log) {
+    spyOn($log, "warn");
+
+    var element = $compile(
+      '<div>' +
+       '<material-slider min="100" max="104" step="2" ng-model="model"></material-slider>' +
+       '<material-slider min="0" max="100" ng-model="model2" aria-label="some label"></material-slider>' +
+      '</div>'
+    )($rootScope);
+
+    var sliders = element.find('material-slider');
+    expect($log.warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(sliders[0]);
+    expect($log.warn).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(sliders[1]);
+  }));
 });
diff --git a/src/components/switch/switch.spec.js b/src/components/switch/switch.spec.js
index 3fa8bee099d..db1bbf0a73c 100644
--- a/src/components/switch/switch.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/switch/switch.spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 describe('<material-switch>', function() {
   var CHECKED_CSS = 'material-checked';
 
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
   beforeEach(module('ngAria'));
   beforeEach(module('material.components.switch'));
 
diff --git a/src/components/tabs/js/tabItemDirective.js b/src/components/tabs/js/tabItemDirective.js
index 61219f736ca..623bf1a9237 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/js/tabItemDirective.js
+++ b/src/components/tabs/js/tabItemDirective.js
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ function MaterialTabDirective($materialInkRipple, $compile, $materialAria) {
           'aria-labelledby': tabId
         });
 
-        $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', element.text());
+        $materialAria.expect(element, 'aria-label', true);
       }
 
     };
diff --git a/src/components/tabs/tabs.spec.js b/src/components/tabs/tabs.spec.js
index 2fb3d3dda30..f1485d3103b 100644
--- a/src/components/tabs/tabs.spec.js
+++ b/src/components/tabs/tabs.spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 describe('materialTabs directive', function() {
 
+  beforeEach(TestUtil.mockRaf);
   beforeEach(module('material.components.tabs', 'material.decorators', 'material.services.aria'));
 
   describe('controller', function(){
diff --git a/src/services/aria/aria.js b/src/services/aria/aria.js
index 5bf4a16a229..60a1ca9ddff 100644
--- a/src/services/aria/aria.js
+++ b/src/services/aria/aria.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 angular.module('material.services.aria', [])
 
 .service('$materialAria', [
+  '$$rAF',
   '$log',
   AriaService
 ]);
 
-function AriaService($log) {
-  var messageTemplate = 'ARIA: Attribute "%s", required for accessibility, is missing on "%s"!';
+function AriaService($$rAF, $log) {
+  var messageTemplate = 'ARIA: Attribute "%s", required for accessibility, is missing on "%s"';
   var defaultValueTemplate = 'Default value was set: %s="%s".';
 
   return {
@@ -17,23 +18,31 @@ function AriaService($log) {
    * Check if expected ARIA has been specified on the target element
    * @param element
    * @param attrName
-   * @param defaultValue
+   * @param copyElementText
+   * @param {optional} defaultValue
    */
-  function expectAttribute(element, attrName, defaultValue) {
-
-    var node = element[0];
-    if (!node.hasAttribute(attrName)) {
-      var hasDefault = angular.isDefined(defaultValue);
-
-      if (hasDefault) {
-        defaultValue = String(defaultValue).trim();
-        // $log.warn(messageTemplate + ' ' + defaultValueTemplate,
-        //           attrName, getTagString(node), attrName, defaultValue);
-        element.attr(attrName, defaultValue);
-      } else {
-        // $log.warn(messageTemplate, attrName, getTagString(node));
+  function expectAttribute(element, attrName, copyElementText, defaultValue) {
+
+    $$rAF(function(){
+
+      var node = element[0];
+      if (!node.hasAttribute(attrName)) {
+
+        var hasDefault;
+        if(copyElementText === true){
+          if(!defaultValue) defaultValue = element.text().trim();
+          hasDefault = angular.isDefined(defaultValue) && defaultValue.length;
+        }
+
+        if (hasDefault) {
+          defaultValue = String(defaultValue).trim();
+          element.attr(attrName, defaultValue);
+        } else {
+          $log.warn(messageTemplate, attrName, node);
+          $log.warn(node);
+        }
       }
-    }
+    });
   }