diff --git a/client/src/templates/Challenges/classic/Editor.js b/client/src/templates/Challenges/classic/Editor.js
index 29322e747d..44f4e5f6ef 100644
--- a/client/src/templates/Challenges/classic/Editor.js
+++ b/client/src/templates/Challenges/classic/Editor.js
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import { createSelector } from 'reselect';
 import {
   canFocusEditorSelector,
   executeChallenge,
+  inAccessibilityModeSelector,
   setEditorFocusability,
+  setAccessibilityMode,
   updateFile
 } from '../redux';
 import { userSelector, isDonationModalOpenSelector } from '../../../redux';
@@ -22,6 +24,8 @@ const propTypes = {
   executeChallenge: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   ext: PropTypes.string,
   fileKey: PropTypes.string,
+  inAccessibilityMode: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
+  setAccessibilityMode: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   setEditorFocusability: PropTypes.func,
   theme: PropTypes.string,
   updateFile: PropTypes.func.isRequired
@@ -29,16 +33,19 @@ const propTypes = {
 
 const mapStateToProps = createSelector(
   canFocusEditorSelector,
+  inAccessibilityModeSelector,
   isDonationModalOpenSelector,
   userSelector,
-  (canFocus, open, { theme = 'default' }) => ({
+  (canFocus, accessibilityMode, open, { theme = 'default' }) => ({
     canFocus: open ? false : canFocus,
+    inAccessibilityMode: accessibilityMode,
     theme
   })
 );
 
 const mapDispatchToProps = {
   setEditorFocusability,
+  setAccessibilityMode,
   executeChallenge,
   updateFile
 };
@@ -114,7 +121,12 @@ class Editor extends Component {
 
   editorDidMount = (editor, monaco) => {
     this._editor = editor;
-    if (this.props.canFocus) {
+    this._editor.updateOptions({
+      accessibilitySupport: this.props.inAccessibilityMode ? 'on' : 'auto'
+    });
+    // Users who are using screen readers should not have to move focus from
+    // the editor to the description every time they open a challenge.
+    if (this.props.canFocus && !this.props.inAccessibilityMode) {
       this._editor.focus();
     } else this.focusOnHotkeys();
     this._editor.addAction({
@@ -135,9 +147,33 @@ class Editor extends Component {
         this.props.setEditorFocusability(false);
       }
     });
+    this._editor.addAction({
+      id: 'toggle-accessibility',
+      label: 'Toggle Accessibility Mode',
+      keybindings: [monaco.KeyMod.CtrlCmd | monaco.KeyCode.F1],
+      run: () => {
+        const currentAccessibility = this.props.inAccessibilityMode;
+        // The store needs to be updated first, as onDidChangeConfiguration is
+        // called before updateOptions returns
+        this.props.setAccessibilityMode(!currentAccessibility);
+        this._editor.updateOptions({
+          accessibilitySupport: currentAccessibility ? 'auto' : 'on'
+        });
+      }
+    });
     this._editor.onDidFocusEditorWidget(() =>
       this.props.setEditorFocusability(true)
     );
+    // This is to persist changes caused by the accessibility tooltip.
+    // Unfortunately it relies on Monaco's implementation details
+    this._editor.onDidChangeConfiguration(() => {
+      if (
+        this._editor.getConfiguration().accessibilitySupport === 2 &&
+        !this.props.inAccessibilityMode
+      ) {
+        this.props.setAccessibilityMode(true);
+      }
+    });
   };
 
   focusOnHotkeys() {
diff --git a/client/src/templates/Challenges/redux/index.js b/client/src/templates/Challenges/redux/index.js
index a8c7a8435a..7385813d6b 100644
--- a/client/src/templates/Challenges/redux/index.js
+++ b/client/src/templates/Challenges/redux/index.js
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const initialState = {
   },
   challengeTests: [],
   consoleOut: '',
+  inAccessibilityMode: false,
   isCodeLocked: false,
   isBuildEnabled: true,
   modal: {
@@ -78,7 +79,8 @@ export const types = createTypes(
 
     'moveToTab',
 
-    'setEditorFocusability'
+    'setEditorFocusability',
+    'setAccessibilityMode'
   ],
   ns
 );
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ export const submitChallenge = createAction(types.submitChallenge);
 export const moveToTab = createAction(types.moveToTab);
 
 export const setEditorFocusability = createAction(types.setEditorFocusability);
+export const setAccessibilityMode = createAction(types.setAccessibilityMode);
 
 export const currentTabSelector = state => state[ns].currentTab;
 export const challengeFilesSelector = state => state[ns].challengeFiles;
@@ -223,6 +226,8 @@ export const challengeDataSelector = state => {
 };
 
 export const canFocusEditorSelector = state => state[ns].canFocusEditor;
+export const inAccessibilityModeSelector = state =>
+  state[ns].inAccessibilityMode;
 
 const MAX_LOGS_SIZE = 64 * 1024;
 
@@ -359,6 +364,10 @@ export const reducer = handleActions(
     [types.setEditorFocusability]: (state, { payload }) => ({
       ...state,
       canFocusEditor: payload
+    }),
+    [types.setAccessibilityMode]: (state, { payload }) => ({
+      ...state,
+      inAccessibilityMode: payload
     })
   },
   initialState