diff --git a/src/server/templates/admin.js b/src/server/templates/admin.js
index b835ad6..cd3af56 100644
--- a/src/server/templates/admin.js
+++ b/src/server/templates/admin.js
@@ -45,16 +45,19 @@ function buildEditQtyRow(name, qty) {
   minusBtn.dataset.adminAction = 'edit-qty';
   minusBtn.dataset.mealName = name;
   minusBtn.dataset.delta = '-1';
+  minusBtn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Remove one ' + name);
   minusBtn.innerHTML = '−';
 
   const span = document.createElement('span');
   span.textContent = qty;
+  span.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Quantity of ' + name);
 
   const plusBtn = document.createElement('button');
   plusBtn.type = 'button';
   plusBtn.dataset.adminAction = 'edit-qty';
   plusBtn.dataset.mealName = name;
   plusBtn.dataset.delta = '1';
+  plusBtn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Add one ' + name);
   plusBtn.textContent = '+';
 
   wrap.appendChild(minusBtn);
@@ -283,6 +286,7 @@ function downloadSummaryPdf() {
   const week = currentAdminWeek || WEEK;
   const btn = document.getElementById('admin-pdf-btn');
   if (btn) btn.disabled = true;
+  window.FormUtils.clearStatus('admin');
   fetch(ADMIN_PDF_URL + '?week=' + encodeURIComponent(week), { headers: adminHeaders() })
     .then(r => r.json().then(data => ({ ok: r.ok, status: r.status, data })))
     .then(({ ok, status, data }) => {
@@ -291,15 +295,29 @@ function downloadSummaryPdf() {
         if (typeof data.url === 'string' && data.url.startsWith('https://')) {
           window.location.href = data.url;
         } else {
-          alert('Could not fetch the summary PDF: invalid URL');
+          window.FormUtils.showStatus('Could not fetch the summary PDF: invalid URL', {
+            tone: 'error',
+            scope: 'admin',
+          });
         }
       } else if (status === 404) {
-        alert('No summary PDF for ' + week + ' yet — it is generated when the week closes on Thursday.');
+        window.FormUtils.showStatus(
+          'No summary PDF for ' + week + ' yet — it is generated when the week closes on Thursday.',
+          { tone: 'info', scope: 'admin' }
+        );
       } else {
-        alert('Could not fetch the summary PDF: ' + (data.error || 'unknown error'));
+        window.FormUtils.showStatus(
+          'Could not fetch the summary PDF: ' + (data.error || 'unknown error'),
+          { tone: 'error', scope: 'admin' }
+        );
       }
     })
-    .catch(() => alert('Could not fetch the summary PDF.'))
+    .catch(() => {
+      window.FormUtils.showStatus('Could not fetch the summary PDF.', {
+        tone: 'error',
+        scope: 'admin',
+      });
+    })
     .finally(() => { if (btn) btn.disabled = false; });
 }
 
@@ -340,11 +358,13 @@ function adminSaveEdit(email) {
     .filter(([, q]) => q > 0)
     .map(([name, quantity]) => ({ name, quantity }));
   if (items.length === 0) {
+    // confirm() retained deliberately for destructive zero-qty → delete guard.
     if (confirm('All quantities are zero. Delete this order instead?')) {
       adminDeleteOrder(email, '');
     }
     return;
   }
+  window.FormUtils.clearStatus('admin');
   fetch(ADMIN_URL, {
     method: 'PUT',
     headers: { ...adminHeaders(), 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
@@ -352,19 +372,31 @@ function adminSaveEdit(email) {
   })
     .then(r => { if (!r.ok) return r.json().then(d => { throw new Error(d.error); }); return r.json(); })
     .then(() => { editingOrder = null; editQuantities = {}; loadWeekOrders(currentAdminWeek); })
-    .catch(e => alert('Failed to update: ' + e.message));
+    .catch(e => {
+      window.FormUtils.showStatus('Failed to update: ' + e.message, {
+        tone: 'error',
+        scope: 'admin',
+      });
+    });
 }
 
 function adminDeleteOrder(email, name) {
   const label = name ? name + ' (' + email + ')' : email;
+  // confirm() retained deliberately for destructive delete guard.
   if (!confirm('Delete order for ' + label + '?')) return;
+  window.FormUtils.clearStatus('admin');
   fetch(ADMIN_URL + '?week=' + encodeURIComponent(currentAdminWeek) + '&email=' + encodeURIComponent(email), {
     method: 'DELETE',
     headers: adminHeaders(),
   })
     .then(r => { if (!r.ok) return r.json().then(d => { throw new Error(d.error); }); return r.json(); })
     .then(() => loadWeekOrders(currentAdminWeek))
-    .catch(e => alert('Failed to delete: ' + e.message));
+    .catch(e => {
+      window.FormUtils.showStatus('Failed to delete: ' + e.message, {
+        tone: 'error',
+        scope: 'admin',
+      });
+    });
 }
 
 function handleAdminPanelClick(e) {
diff --git a/src/server/templates/form.js b/src/server/templates/form.js
index d37fa23..7a61bae 100644
--- a/src/server/templates/form.js
+++ b/src/server/templates/form.js
@@ -47,7 +47,32 @@ function employeePrice(retail) {
   return empPrice;
 }
 
-window.FormUtils = { escapeHtml, employeePrice };
+function clearStatus(scope) {
+  const prefix = scope === 'admin' ? 'admin-status' : 'form-status';
+  const alertEl = document.getElementById(prefix + '-alert');
+  const infoEl = document.getElementById(prefix + '-info');
+  if (alertEl) alertEl.textContent = '';
+  if (infoEl) infoEl.textContent = '';
+}
+
+function showStatus(message, options) {
+  const opts = options || {};
+  const tone = opts.tone || 'error';
+  const scope = opts.scope || 'form';
+  const prefix = scope === 'admin' ? 'admin-status' : 'form-status';
+  const alertEl = document.getElementById(prefix + '-alert');
+  const infoEl = document.getElementById(prefix + '-info');
+  if (!alertEl || !infoEl) return;
+  if (tone === 'info') {
+    alertEl.textContent = '';
+    infoEl.textContent = message || '';
+  } else {
+    infoEl.textContent = '';
+    alertEl.textContent = message || '';
+  }
+}
+
+window.FormUtils = { escapeHtml, employeePrice, showStatus, clearStatus };
 
 function syncGoogleCredential() {
   window.googleCredential = googleCredential;
@@ -183,6 +208,36 @@ function buildMealTagsEl(meal) {
   return tagsEl;
 }
 
+function removeDescToggle(card) {
+  const existing = card.querySelector('.meal-desc-toggle');
+  if (existing) existing.remove();
+}
+
+function attachDescToggleIfOverflow(card) {
+  const descEl = card.querySelector('.meal-desc');
+  if (!descEl || descEl.classList.contains('is-hidden')) return;
+  removeDescToggle(card);
+  if (descEl.scrollHeight <= descEl.clientHeight + 1) return;
+
+  const btn = document.createElement('button');
+  btn.type = 'button';
+  btn.className = 'meal-desc-toggle';
+  btn.textContent = 'More';
+  btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+  btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    const expanded = descEl.classList.toggle('is-expanded');
+    btn.textContent = expanded ? 'Less' : 'More';
+    btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', expanded ? 'true' : 'false');
+  });
+  descEl.after(btn);
+}
+
+function scheduleDescToggle(card) {
+  requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+    attachDescToggleIfOverflow(card);
+  });
+}
+
 function updateMealCard(card, meal, i) {
   const qty = quantities[i] || 0;
   card.dataset.mealIndex = String(i);
@@ -202,9 +257,12 @@ function updateMealCard(card, meal, i) {
   card.querySelector('.meal-name').textContent = meal.name;
 
   const descEl = card.querySelector('.meal-desc');
+  removeDescToggle(card);
+  descEl.classList.remove('is-expanded');
   if (meal.description) {
     descEl.textContent = meal.description;
     descEl.classList.remove('is-hidden');
+    scheduleDescToggle(card);
   } else {
     descEl.textContent = '';
     descEl.classList.add('is-hidden');
@@ -220,6 +278,12 @@ function updateMealCard(card, meal, i) {
 
   const qtyInput = card.querySelector('.qty');
   qtyInput.value = qty;
+  qtyInput.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Quantity of ' + meal.name);
+
+  const minusBtn = card.querySelector('[data-qty-delta="-1"]');
+  const plusBtn = card.querySelector('[data-qty-delta="1"]');
+  if (minusBtn) minusBtn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Remove one ' + meal.name);
+  if (plusBtn) plusBtn.setAttribute('aria-label', 'Add one ' + meal.name);
 
   const disabled = formClosed && !isAdmin;
   card.querySelectorAll('[data-qty-delta]').forEach(btn => { btn.disabled = disabled; });
@@ -318,20 +382,38 @@ function updateTotal() {
 }
 
 async function submitOrder() {
-  if (formClosed && !isAdmin) { alert('Orders are closed.'); return; }
+  clearStatus('form');
+
+  if (formClosed && !isAdmin) {
+    showStatus('Orders are closed.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
+    return;
+  }
 
   let payload;
   let successName;
 
   if (CONFIG.authMode === 'google') {
-    if (!googleCredential || !googleUser) { alert('Please sign in with Google first.'); return; }
+    if (!googleCredential || !googleUser) {
+      showStatus('Please sign in with Google first.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
+      return;
+    }
     payload = { google_id_token: googleCredential, items: buildItems() };
     successName = googleUser.name;
   } else {
-    const name = document.getElementById('emp-name').value.trim();
-    const email = document.getElementById('emp-email').value.trim();
-    if (!name) { alert('Please enter your name.'); return; }
-    if (!email) { alert('Please enter your email.'); return; }
+    const nameEl = document.getElementById('emp-name');
+    const emailEl = document.getElementById('emp-email');
+    const name = nameEl.value.trim();
+    const email = emailEl.value.trim();
+    if (!name) {
+      showStatus('Please enter your name.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
+      nameEl.focus();
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!email) {
+      showStatus('Please enter your email.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
+      emailEl.focus();
+      return;
+    }
     payload = { employee_name: name, employee_email: email, items: buildItems() };
     successName = name;
   }
@@ -359,45 +441,50 @@ async function submitOrder() {
       const footer = document.querySelector('.sticky-footer');
       if (footer) footer.classList.add('is-hidden');
       try { localStorage.setItem('lastOrderWeek', WEEK); } catch (e) {}
+      const successHeading = document.getElementById('success-heading');
+      if (successHeading) successHeading.focus();
     } else {
-      alert(data.error || 'Something went wrong.');
+      showStatus(data.error || 'Something went wrong.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
       btn.disabled = false;
       btn.textContent = 'Submit Order';
     }
   } catch (e) {
-    alert('Failed to submit. Check your connection and try again.');
+    showStatus('Failed to submit. Check your connection and try again.', { tone: 'error', scope: 'form' });
     btn.disabled = false;
     btn.textContent = 'Submit Order';
   }
 }
 
+function bindEmpNameChange(select) {
+  if (select.dataset.boundChange === '1') return;
+  select.dataset.boundChange = '1';
+  select.addEventListener('change', () => {
+    const selected = select.options[select.selectedIndex];
+    document.getElementById('emp-email').value = selected?.dataset?.email || '';
+    clearStatus('form');
+  });
+}
+
+function populateEmpSelect(select, employees) {
+  select.innerHTML = '<option value="">Select your name</option>';
+  employees.forEach(emp => {
+    const opt = document.createElement('option');
+    opt.value = emp.name;
+    opt.dataset.email = emp.email;
+    opt.textContent = emp.name;
+    select.appendChild(opt);
+  });
+  bindEmpNameChange(select);
+}
+
 async function loadRoster() {
+  const select = document.getElementById('emp-name');
   try {
     const res = await fetch(ROSTER_URL);
     const data = await res.json();
-    const select = document.getElementById('emp-name');
-    select.innerHTML = '<option value="">Select your name</option>';
-    (data.employees || ROSTER).forEach(emp => {
-      const opt = document.createElement('option');
-      opt.value = emp.name;
-      opt.dataset.email = emp.email;
-      opt.textContent = emp.name;
-      select.appendChild(opt);
-    });
-    select.addEventListener('change', () => {
-      const selected = select.options[select.selectedIndex];
-      document.getElementById('emp-email').value = selected?.dataset?.email || '';
-    });
+    populateEmpSelect(select, data.employees || ROSTER);
   } catch (e) {
-    const select = document.getElementById('emp-name');
-    select.innerHTML = '<option value="">Select your name</option>';
-    ROSTER.forEach(emp => {
-      const opt = document.createElement('option');
-      opt.value = emp.name;
-      opt.dataset.email = emp.email;
-      opt.textContent = emp.name;
-      select.appendChild(opt);
-    });
+    populateEmpSelect(select, ROSTER);
   }
 }
 
@@ -585,11 +672,17 @@ function init() {
   cats.forEach(cat => {
     const btn = document.createElement('button');
     btn.type = 'button';
-    btn.className = 'btn btn-chip' + (cat === 'All Meals' ? ' active' : '');
+    const isActive = cat === 'All Meals';
+    btn.className = 'btn btn-chip' + (isActive ? ' active' : '');
+    btn.setAttribute('aria-pressed', isActive ? 'true' : 'false');
     btn.textContent = cat;
     btn.addEventListener('click', () => {
-      filtersEl.querySelectorAll('button').forEach(b => b.classList.remove('active'));
+      filtersEl.querySelectorAll('button').forEach(b => {
+        b.classList.remove('active');
+        b.setAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false');
+      });
       btn.classList.add('active');
+      btn.setAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
       renderMeals();
     });
     filtersEl.appendChild(btn);
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/menu.json b/tests/fixtures/menu.json
index ee0671b..5b52de1 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/menu.json
+++ b/tests/fixtures/menu.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
       "price": 14.5,
       "calories": "620",
       "protein": "35g",
-      "description": "With onions",
+      "description": "Stir-fried beef tenderloin with onions, tomatoes, and soy sauce, served over french fries with a side of steamed white rice and aji amarillo. A long fixture blurb used to exercise the three-line clamp and the More expand control in accessibility tests.",
       "dietary_tags": [],
       "image_url": "",
       "is_new": true