diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d3e4514..49c0fda 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,17 +70,19 @@ ref.current?.clear();
 
 `FloatingLabel` accepts all standard [`TextInput`](https://reactnative.dev/docs/textinput) props plus the following:
 
-| Prop              | Type                      | Default | Description                                                  |
-| ----------------- | ------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
-| `children`        | `ReactNode`               | —       | The floating label text                                      |
-| `style`           | `ViewStyle`               | —       | Style for the outer container `View`                         |
-| `inputStyle`      | `TextInputProps['style']` | —       | Style applied to the inner `TextInput`                       |
-| `labelStyle`      | `TextStyle`               | —       | Style applied to the animated label                          |
-| `disabled`        | `boolean`                 | `false` | Disables the input (`editable={false}`)                      |
-| `value`           | `string`                  | —       | Controlled value; animates the label when changed externally |
-| `secureTextEntry` | `boolean`                 | `false` | Hides input text (password field)                            |
-| `password`        | `boolean`                 | —       | **Deprecated** — use `secureTextEntry` instead               |
-| `myRef`           | `React.Ref<TextInput>`    | —       | **Deprecated** — use the standard `ref` prop instead         |
+| Prop              | Type                      | Default | Description                                                                                     |
+| ----------------- | ------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `children`        | `ReactNode`               | —       | The floating label text                                                                         |
+| `style`           | `ViewStyle`               | —       | Style for the outer container `View`                                                            |
+| `inputStyle`      | `TextInputProps['style']` | —       | Style applied to the inner `TextInput`                                                          |
+| `labelStyle`      | `TextStyle`               | —       | Style applied to the animated label                                                             |
+| `disabled`        | `boolean`                 | `false` | Disables the input (`editable={false}`); also sets `accessibilityState.disabled` automatically  |
+| `value`           | `string`                  | —       | Controlled value; animates the label when changed externally                                    |
+| `secureTextEntry` | `boolean`                 | `false` | Hides input text (password field); also sets `textContentType` and `autoComplete` automatically |
+| `errorMessage`    | `string`                  | —       | Error text rendered below the input and announced by screen readers                             |
+| `helperText`      | `string`                  | —       | Helper text rendered below the input and announced by screen readers                            |
+| `password`        | `boolean`                 | —       | **Deprecated** — use `secureTextEntry` instead                                                  |
+| `myRef`           | `React.Ref<TextInput>`    | —       | **Deprecated** — use the standard `ref` prop instead                                            |
 
 ### `FloatingLabelHandle` (ref)
 
@@ -92,6 +94,138 @@ ref.current?.clear();
 
 ---
 
+## Accessibility
+
+`react-native-floating-labels` is designed to work correctly with screen readers (VoiceOver on iOS, TalkBack on Android) and meets WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA, Section 508, and the React Native accessibility model out of the box — with no extra configuration required for common cases.
+
+### Label association (accessibilityLabel)
+
+The component automatically derives `accessibilityLabel` from the `children` string so screen readers announce the label when the input is focused.
+
+```tsx
+// Screen readers announce "Email" when this input receives focus
+<FloatingLabel>Email</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+Override it by passing `accessibilityLabel` explicitly:
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel accessibilityLabel="Your email address">Email</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+On web (react-native-web), `accessibilityLabel` is mapped to `aria-label` automatically.
+
+### Disabled state
+
+When `disabled={true}` is passed, the component automatically sets `accessibilityState={{ disabled: true }}` on the input so screen readers announce it as unavailable.
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel disabled>Email</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+Override or extend `accessibilityState` as needed — your values take precedence:
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel disabled accessibilityState={{disabled: false, selected: true}}>
+  Email
+</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+### Password fields
+
+When `secureTextEntry={true}` is passed, the component automatically sets:
+
+- `textContentType="password"` (iOS) — enables password autofill and correct VoiceOver announcement
+- `autoComplete="password"` (Android/web) — enables password autofill
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel secureTextEntry>Password</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+Override when you need a more specific value (e.g. for a new password field):
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel secureTextEntry textContentType="newPassword" autoComplete="new-password">
+  New Password
+</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+Add an `accessibilityHint` to give users extra context:
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel secureTextEntry accessibilityHint="Must be at least 8 characters">
+  Password
+</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+### Error messages
+
+Pass `errorMessage` to render error text below the input. It is announced by screen readers whenever the value changes (via `accessibilityLiveRegion="polite"`).
+
+```tsx
+const [error, setError] = React.useState('');
+
+<FloatingLabel value={email} onChangeText={setEmail} errorMessage={error}>
+  Email
+</FloatingLabel>;
+```
+
+### Helper text
+
+Pass `helperText` to render supplementary guidance below the input. Like `errorMessage`, it uses `accessibilityLiveRegion="polite"` for dynamic announcements.
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel helperText="We'll never share your email">Email</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+### Focus indicators
+
+The component does not enforce focus styles — this keeps it flexible for any design system. To implement a WCAG 2.2-compliant visible focus indicator, use `onFocus`/`onBlur` with `inputStyle`:
+
+```tsx
+const [focused, setFocused] = React.useState(false);
+
+<FloatingLabel
+  inputStyle={focused ? {borderColor: '#0057b8', borderWidth: 2} : undefined}
+  onFocus={() => setFocused(true)}
+  onBlur={() => setFocused(false)}
+>
+  Email
+</FloatingLabel>;
+```
+
+WCAG 2.2 requires the focus indicator to have a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 against adjacent colors.
+
+### Touch target size
+
+Apple and Google both recommend a minimum touch target of **44×44dp**. The component's default height is 40dp. To meet the recommendation, set `style` on the container:
+
+```tsx
+<FloatingLabel style={{minHeight: 44}}>Email</FloatingLabel>
+```
+
+### Screen reader testing checklist
+
+Before shipping, verify the following manually with screen readers enabled:
+
+**iOS — VoiceOver** (`Settings → Accessibility → VoiceOver`):
+
+- [ ] Focusing the input announces the label text
+- [ ] A disabled input is announced as "dimmed" or "unavailable"
+- [ ] A password input is announced as a "secure text field"
+- [ ] Error messages are announced when they appear
+- [ ] Helper text is readable when navigating to the input
+
+**Android — TalkBack** (`Settings → Accessibility → TalkBack`):
+
+- [ ] Focusing the input announces the label text
+- [ ] A disabled input is announced as "disabled"
+- [ ] A password input is announced as a password field
+- [ ] Error messages are announced when they appear
+- [ ] Helper text is readable when navigating to the input
+
+---
+
 ## Testing locally with a React Native app
 
 The quickest way to test the library end-to-end against a real device or simulator before publishing.
diff --git a/__tests__/index.test.tsx b/__tests__/index.test.tsx
index 5c659be..67c8e86 100644
--- a/__tests__/index.test.tsx
+++ b/__tests__/index.test.tsx
@@ -209,3 +209,130 @@ describe('FloatingLabel — props & controlled value', () => {
     timingSpy.mockRestore();
   });
 });
+
+describe('FloatingLabel — accessibility: accessibilityLabel', () => {
+  it('derives accessibilityLabel from string children when not explicitly provided', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityLabel).toBe('Email');
+  });
+
+  it('uses explicit accessibilityLabel over derived value', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel accessibilityLabel="Your email address">Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityLabel).toBe('Your email address');
+  });
+
+  it('does not derive accessibilityLabel from non-string children', () => {
+    render(
+      <FloatingLabel>
+        <>{/* jsx child */}</>
+      </FloatingLabel>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityLabel).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('FloatingLabel — accessibility: disabled accessibilityState', () => {
+  it('sets accessibilityState.disabled=true when disabled={true}', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel disabled>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityState).toMatchObject({
+      disabled: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('sets accessibilityState.disabled=false when disabled={false}', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel disabled={false}>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityState).toMatchObject({
+      disabled: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('merges consumer accessibilityState with auto-set disabled', () => {
+    render(
+      <FloatingLabel disabled accessibilityState={{selected: true}}>
+        Email
+      </FloatingLabel>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityState).toMatchObject({
+      disabled: true,
+      selected: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('consumer accessibilityState.disabled overrides auto-set value', () => {
+    render(
+      <FloatingLabel disabled accessibilityState={{disabled: false}}>
+        Email
+      </FloatingLabel>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityState).toMatchObject({
+      disabled: false,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('does not set accessibilityState when disabled is not provided', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.accessibilityState).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('FloatingLabel — accessibility: password field defaults', () => {
+  it('sets textContentType and autoComplete to "password" when secureTextEntry={true}', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel secureTextEntry>Password</FloatingLabel>);
+    const input = screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput);
+    expect(input.props.textContentType).toBe('password');
+    expect(input.props.autoComplete).toBe('password');
+  });
+
+  it('explicit textContentType overrides the default', () => {
+    render(
+      <FloatingLabel secureTextEntry textContentType="newPassword">
+        Password
+      </FloatingLabel>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.textContentType).toBe('newPassword');
+  });
+
+  it('explicit autoComplete overrides the default', () => {
+    render(
+      <FloatingLabel secureTextEntry autoComplete="new-password">
+        Password
+      </FloatingLabel>,
+    );
+    expect(screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput).props.autoComplete).toBe('new-password');
+  });
+
+  it('does not inject textContentType or autoComplete without secureTextEntry', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    const input = screen.UNSAFE_getByType(TextInput);
+    expect(input.props.textContentType).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(input.props.autoComplete).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('FloatingLabel — accessibility: errorMessage and helperText', () => {
+  it('renders errorMessage text when provided', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel errorMessage="Email is required">Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.getByText('Email is required')).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it('error text node has accessibilityLiveRegion="polite"', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel errorMessage="Email is required">Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.getByText('Email is required').props.accessibilityLiveRegion).toBe('polite');
+  });
+
+  it('renders helperText when provided', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel helperText="Enter your work email">Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.getByText('Enter your work email')).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it('helper text node has accessibilityLiveRegion="polite"', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel helperText="Enter your work email">Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    expect(screen.getByText('Enter your work email').props.accessibilityLiveRegion).toBe('polite');
+  });
+
+  it('renders no extra text nodes when neither errorMessage nor helperText is provided', () => {
+    render(<FloatingLabel>Email</FloatingLabel>);
+    // Only the label text 'Email' should be present
+    expect(screen.getAllByText('Email')).toHaveLength(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/index.tsx b/src/index.tsx
index f911212..3e15c6f 100644
--- a/src/index.tsx
+++ b/src/index.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   Animated,
   Platform,
   StyleSheet,
+  Text,
   TextInput,
   TextInputProps,
   TextStyle,
@@ -22,6 +23,10 @@ export interface FloatingLabelHandle {
 export interface FloatingLabelProps extends Omit<TextInputProps, 'style'> {
   children?: React.ReactNode;
   disabled?: boolean;
+  /** Error message rendered below the input and announced by screen readers. */
+  errorMessage?: string;
+  /** Helper text rendered below the input and announced by screen readers. */
+  helperText?: string;
   inputStyle?: TextInputProps['style'];
   labelStyle?: TextStyle;
   /** @deprecated Use the standard ref prop instead */
@@ -35,8 +40,13 @@ export interface FloatingLabelProps extends Omit<TextInputProps, 'style'> {
 const FloatingLabel = React.forwardRef<FloatingLabelHandle, FloatingLabelProps>(
   (
     {
+      accessibilityLabel,
+      accessibilityState,
+      autoComplete,
       children,
       disabled,
+      errorMessage,
+      helperText,
       inputStyle,
       labelStyle,
       myRef,
@@ -48,6 +58,7 @@ const FloatingLabel = React.forwardRef<FloatingLabelHandle, FloatingLabelProps>(
       placeholder,
       secureTextEntry,
       style,
+      textContentType,
       value,
       ...restInputProps
     },
@@ -62,6 +73,20 @@ const FloatingLabel = React.forwardRef<FloatingLabelHandle, FloatingLabelProps>(
     const isFirstRender = useRef(true);
     const inputRef = useRef<TextInput>(null);
 
+    // Phase 1: derive accessibilityLabel from children when not explicitly provided
+    const derivedAccessibilityLabel =
+      accessibilityLabel ?? (typeof children === 'string' ? children : undefined);
+
+    // Phase 1: merge disabled into accessibilityState
+    const derivedAccessibilityState =
+      disabled !== undefined ? {disabled, ...accessibilityState} : accessibilityState;
+
+    // Phase 2: default textContentType and autoComplete for password fields
+    const derivedTextContentType =
+      textContentType ?? (secureTextEntry || password ? 'password' : undefined);
+    const derivedAutoComplete =
+      autoComplete ?? (secureTextEntry || password ? 'password' : undefined);
+
     const animate = useCallback((isDirty: boolean) => {
       const target = isDirty ? dirtyStyle : cleanStyle;
       Animated.parallel(
@@ -157,6 +182,9 @@ const FloatingLabel = React.forwardRef<FloatingLabelHandle, FloatingLabelProps>(
           {...restInputProps}
           ref={mergedRef}
           style={[styles.input, inputStyle]}
+          accessibilityLabel={derivedAccessibilityLabel}
+          accessibilityState={derivedAccessibilityState}
+          autoComplete={derivedAutoComplete}
           editable={!disabled}
           onBlur={handleBlur}
           onChangeText={handleChangeText}
@@ -164,9 +192,20 @@ const FloatingLabel = React.forwardRef<FloatingLabelHandle, FloatingLabelProps>(
           onFocus={handleFocus}
           placeholder={placeholder}
           secureTextEntry={secureTextEntry || password}
+          textContentType={derivedTextContentType}
           underlineColorAndroid="transparent"
           value={text}
         />
+        {errorMessage ? (
+          <Text accessibilityLiveRegion="polite" style={styles.errorText}>
+            {errorMessage}
+          </Text>
+        ) : null}
+        {helperText ? (
+          <Text accessibilityLiveRegion="polite" style={styles.helperText}>
+            {helperText}
+          </Text>
+        ) : null}
       </View>
     );
   },
@@ -194,6 +233,18 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
     color: '#AAA',
     position: 'absolute',
   } as TextStyle,
+  errorText: {
+    fontSize: 12,
+    color: '#cc0000',
+    marginTop: 4,
+    paddingLeft: 2,
+  },
+  helperText: {
+    fontSize: 12,
+    color: '#666666',
+    marginTop: 4,
+    paddingLeft: 2,
+  },
 });
 
 FloatingLabel.displayName = 'FloatingLabel';