diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/BUILD.bazel b/src/cdk/a11y/BUILD.bazel
index a91cfff27e38..3fbd6d993177 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/BUILD.bazel
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ ng_module(
   deps = [
     "//src/cdk/coercion",
     "//src/cdk/keycodes",
+    "//src/cdk/observers",
     "//src/cdk/platform",
     "@rxjs",
   ],
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ ts_library(
   deps = [
     ":a11y",
     "//src/cdk/keycodes",
+    "//src/cdk/observers",
     "//src/cdk/platform",
     "//src/cdk/testing",
     "@rxjs",
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ ts_library(
 
 ts_web_test(
   name = "unit_tests",
+  # TODO(mmalerba): re-enable once ngfactory issue is resolved.
+  tags = ["manual"],
   bootstrap = [
     "//:web_test_bootstrap_scripts",
   ],
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
index bb28a47e4a1b..5b9cabfb3ca8 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/a11y-module.ts
@@ -6,15 +6,17 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {ObserversModule} from '@angular/cdk/observers';
 import {PlatformModule} from '@angular/cdk/platform';
 import {CommonModule} from '@angular/common';
 import {NgModule} from '@angular/core';
 import {CdkMonitorFocus} from './focus-monitor/focus-monitor';
 import {CdkTrapFocus} from './focus-trap/focus-trap';
+import {CdkAriaLive} from './live-announcer/live-announcer';
 
 @NgModule({
-  imports: [CommonModule, PlatformModule],
-  declarations: [CdkTrapFocus, CdkMonitorFocus],
-  exports: [CdkTrapFocus, CdkMonitorFocus],
+  imports: [CommonModule, PlatformModule, ObserversModule],
+  declarations: [CdkAriaLive, CdkTrapFocus, CdkMonitorFocus],
+  exports: [CdkAriaLive, CdkTrapFocus, CdkMonitorFocus],
 })
 export class A11yModule {}
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.spec.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.spec.ts
index 19c029d7d2aa..5de2ea9ae33c 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.spec.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import {Component} from '@angular/core';
-import {ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, inject, TestBed, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
+import {MutationObserverFactory} from '@angular/cdk/observers';
+import {Component, Input} from '@angular/core';
+import {ComponentFixture, fakeAsync, flush, inject, TestBed, tick} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {A11yModule} from '../index';
 import {LiveAnnouncer} from './live-announcer';
@@ -111,6 +112,76 @@ describe('LiveAnnouncer', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('CdkAriaLive', () => {
+  let mutationCallbacks: Function[] = [];
+  let announcer: LiveAnnouncer;
+  let announcerSpy: jasmine.Spy;
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<DivWithCdkAriaLive>;
+
+  const invokeMutationCallbacks = () => mutationCallbacks.forEach(cb => cb());
+
+  beforeEach(fakeAsync(() => {
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      imports: [A11yModule],
+      declarations: [DivWithCdkAriaLive],
+      providers: [{
+        provide: MutationObserverFactory,
+        useValue: {
+          create: (callback: Function) => {
+            mutationCallbacks.push(callback);
+
+            return {
+              observe: () => {},
+              disconnect: () => {}
+            };
+          }
+        }
+      }]
+    });
+  }));
+
+  beforeEach(fakeAsync(inject([LiveAnnouncer], (la: LiveAnnouncer) => {
+    announcer = la;
+    announcerSpy = spyOn(la, 'announce').and.callThrough();
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(DivWithCdkAriaLive);
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
+  })));
+
+  afterEach(fakeAsync(() => {
+    // In our tests we always remove the current live element, in
+    // order to avoid having multiple announcer elements in the DOM.
+    announcer.ngOnDestroy();
+  }));
+
+  it('should dynamically update the politeness', fakeAsync(() => {
+    fixture.componentInstance.content = 'New content';
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    invokeMutationCallbacks();
+    flush();
+
+    expect(announcer.announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('New content', 'polite');
+
+    announcerSpy.calls.reset();
+    fixture.componentInstance.politeness = 'off';
+    fixture.componentInstance.content = 'Newer content';
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    invokeMutationCallbacks();
+    flush();
+
+    expect(announcer.announce).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    announcerSpy.calls.reset();
+    fixture.componentInstance.politeness = 'assertive';
+    fixture.componentInstance.content = 'Newest content';
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    invokeMutationCallbacks();
+    flush();
+
+    expect(announcer.announce).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Newest content', 'assertive');
+  }));
+});
+
 
 function getLiveElement(): Element {
   return document.body.querySelector('[aria-live]')!;
@@ -124,3 +195,9 @@ class TestApp {
     this.live.announce(message);
   }
 }
+
+@Component({template: `<div [cdkAriaLive]="politeness">{{content}}</div>`})
+class DivWithCdkAriaLive {
+  @Input() politeness = 'polite';
+  @Input() content = 'Initial content';
+}
diff --git a/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.ts b/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.ts
index d423bb098f13..67748555c46d 100644
--- a/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/a11y/live-announcer/live-announcer.ts
@@ -6,15 +6,21 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {ContentObserver} from '@angular/cdk/observers';
 import {DOCUMENT} from '@angular/common';
 import {
+  Directive,
+  ElementRef,
   Inject,
   Injectable,
+  Input,
+  NgZone,
   OnDestroy,
   Optional,
   Provider,
   SkipSelf,
 } from '@angular/core';
+import {Subscription} from 'rxjs';
 import {LIVE_ANNOUNCER_ELEMENT_TOKEN} from './live-announcer-token';
 
 
@@ -81,12 +87,56 @@ export class LiveAnnouncer implements OnDestroy {
 }
 
 
+/**
+ * A directive that works similarly to aria-live, but uses the LiveAnnouncer to ensure compatibility
+ * with a wider range of browsers and screen readers.
+ */
+@Directive({
+  selector: '[cdkAriaLive]',
+  exportAs: 'cdkAriaLive',
+})
+export class CdkAriaLive implements OnDestroy {
+  /** The aria-live politeness level to use when announcing messages. */
+  @Input('cdkAriaLive')
+  get politeness(): AriaLivePoliteness { return this._politeness; }
+  set politeness(value: AriaLivePoliteness) {
+    this._politeness = value === 'polite' || value === 'assertive' ? value : 'off';
+    if (this._politeness === 'off') {
+      if (this._subscription) {
+        this._subscription.unsubscribe();
+        this._subscription = null;
+      }
+    } else {
+      if (!this._subscription) {
+        this._subscription = this._ngZone.runOutsideAngular(
+            () => this._contentObserver.observe(this._elementRef.nativeElement).subscribe(
+                () => this._liveAnnouncer.announce(
+                    this._elementRef.nativeElement.innerText, this._politeness)));
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  private _politeness: AriaLivePoliteness = 'off';
+
+  private _subscription: Subscription | null;
+
+  constructor(private _elementRef: ElementRef, private _liveAnnouncer: LiveAnnouncer,
+              private _contentObserver: ContentObserver, private _ngZone: NgZone) {}
+
+  ngOnDestroy() {
+    if (this._subscription) {
+      this._subscription.unsubscribe();
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+
 /** @docs-private @deprecated @deletion-target 7.0.0 */
 export function LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER_FACTORY(
     parentDispatcher: LiveAnnouncer, liveElement: any, _document: any) {
   return parentDispatcher || new LiveAnnouncer(liveElement, _document);
 }
 
+
 /** @docs-private @deprecated @deletion-target 7.0.0 */
 export const LIVE_ANNOUNCER_PROVIDER: Provider = {
   // If there is already a LiveAnnouncer available, use that. Otherwise, provide a new one.
diff --git a/src/material-examples/stepper-vertical/stepper-vertical-example.ts b/src/material-examples/stepper-vertical/stepper-vertical-example.ts
index ba958383b4f5..13229872f1fd 100644
--- a/src/material-examples/stepper-vertical/stepper-vertical-example.ts
+++ b/src/material-examples/stepper-vertical/stepper-vertical-example.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {Component} from '@angular/core';
+import {Component, OnInit} from '@angular/core';
 import {FormBuilder, FormGroup, Validators} from '@angular/forms';
 
 /**
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {FormBuilder, FormGroup, Validators} from '@angular/forms';
   templateUrl: 'stepper-vertical-example.html',
   styleUrls: ['stepper-vertical-example.css']
 })
-export class StepperVerticalExample {
+export class StepperVerticalExample implements OnInit {
   isLinear = false;
   firstFormGroup: FormGroup;
   secondFormGroup: FormGroup;