diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 92d9e3d1d1..0a5958489b 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ module ApplicationHelper
   end
 
   def render_flash_message(type, message, html_options = {})
-    html_options = {:class => "flash #{type} icon icon-#{type}"}.merge(html_options)
+    html_options = { :class => "flash #{type} icon icon-#{type}", role: "alert" }.merge(html_options)
     if User.current.impaired?
       content_tag('div', content_tag('a', join_flash_messages(message), :href => 'javascript:;'), html_options)
     else