diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatButton.js b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatButton.js
index 62f4f1507..adbcf01ec 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatButton.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatButton.js
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ const JKSessionChatButton = ({ sessionId }) => {
         src={chatIcon}
         alt="Chat"
         onClick={handleClick}
+        role="button"
+        tabIndex={0}
+        aria-label={`Open chat${unreadCount > 0 ? ` (${unreadCount} unread)` : ''}`}
+        aria-pressed={isWindowOpen}
         style={{
           cursor: 'pointer',
           width: '24px',
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatWindow.js b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatWindow.js
index 667ce3178..7520d78fc 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatWindow.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/client/JKSessionChatWindow.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useCallback } from 'react';
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useSelector, useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
 import WindowPortal from '../common/WindowPortal.js';
 import JKChatHeader from './chat/JKChatHeader.js';
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import { useJamServerContext } from '../../context/JamServerContext';
  */
 const JKSessionChatWindow = () => {
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const textareaRef = useRef(null);
 
   // Redux selectors
   const isWindowOpen = useSelector(selectIsChatWindowOpen);
@@ -54,6 +55,29 @@ const JKSessionChatWindow = () => {
     return 'Session Chat';
   }, [activeChannel]);
 
+  // Keyboard shortcut: Escape to close window
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const handleKeyDown = (e) => {
+      if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+        dispatch(closeChatWindow());
+      }
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown);
+  }, [dispatch]);
+
+  // Focus management: Auto-focus textarea when window opens
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (isWindowOpen && textareaRef.current) {
+      // Delay focus to ensure DOM is ready
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        if (textareaRef.current) {
+          textareaRef.current.focus();
+        }
+      }, 100);
+    }
+  }, [isWindowOpen]);
+
   // Conditional render: only show if window is open
   if (!isWindowOpen) return null;
 
@@ -64,7 +88,12 @@ const JKSessionChatWindow = () => {
       onClose={handleClose}
       windowId="jamkazam-chat"
     >
-      <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', height: '100%', width: '100%' }}>
+      <div
+        role="dialog"
+        aria-labelledby="chat-window-title"
+        aria-modal="false"
+        style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', height: '100%', width: '100%' }}
+      >
         <JKChatHeader
           channelName={getChannelName()}
           onClose={handleClose}
@@ -87,7 +116,7 @@ const JKSessionChatWindow = () => {
         <div style={{ flex: 1, overflowY: 'auto' }}>
           <JKChatMessageList />
         </div>
-        <JKChatComposer />
+        <JKChatComposer textareaRef={textareaRef} />
       </div>
     </WindowPortal>
   );
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatComposer.js b/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatComposer.js
index 65d2596a2..e8bd44734 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatComposer.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatComposer.js
@@ -20,8 +20,11 @@ import { useJamServerContext } from '../../../context/JamServerContext';
  * - Gray: 0-230 characters (normal)
  * - Yellow: 231-255 characters (approaching limit)
  * - Red: 256+ characters (over limit)
+ *
+ * @param {Object} props - Component props
+ * @param {React.Ref} props.textareaRef - Ref for textarea (for focus management)
  */
-const JKChatComposer = () => {
+const JKChatComposer = ({ textareaRef }) => {
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
   const [inputText, setInputText] = useState('');
 
@@ -102,11 +105,15 @@ const JKChatComposer = () => {
     <div style={{ padding: '12px', borderTop: '1px solid #ddd' }}>
       {/* Textarea */}
       <textarea
+        ref={textareaRef}
         value={inputText}
         onChange={handleInputChange}
         onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
         placeholder="Type a message..."
         rows={3}
+        aria-label="Type your message"
+        aria-describedby="char-count"
+        aria-invalid={isOverLimit}
         style={{
           width: '100%',
           padding: '8px',
@@ -132,6 +139,7 @@ const JKChatComposer = () => {
         {/* Character count with validation message */}
         <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', flex: 1 }}>
           <span
+            id="char-count"
             style={{
               fontSize: '12px',
               color: countColor,
@@ -141,7 +149,10 @@ const JKChatComposer = () => {
             {charCount}/255
           </span>
           {validationMessage && (
-            <span
+            <div
+              role="alert"
+              aria-live="polite"
+              aria-atomic="true"
               style={{
                 fontSize: '11px',
                 color: isOverLimit ? '#dc3545' : '#ffc107',
@@ -149,7 +160,7 @@ const JKChatComposer = () => {
               }}
             >
               {validationMessage}
-            </span>
+            </div>
           )}
         </div>
 
diff --git a/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatHeader.js b/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatHeader.js
index 275a685ea..65ffea55c 100644
--- a/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatHeader.js
+++ b/jam-ui/src/components/client/chat/JKChatHeader.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const JKChatHeader = ({ channelName, onClose }) => {
       borderBottom: '1px solid #e0e0e0',
       backgroundColor: '#f8f9fa'
     }}>
-      <h5 style={{ margin: 0, fontSize: '16px', fontWeight: 600 }}>
+      <h5 id="chat-window-title" style={{ margin: 0, fontSize: '16px', fontWeight: 600 }}>
         {channelName || 'Session Chat'}
       </h5>
       <button