diff --git a/coral-component-toast/src/scripts/Toast.js b/coral-component-toast/src/scripts/Toast.js
index aac41e75dc..7bf62dbe50 100644
--- a/coral-component-toast/src/scripts/Toast.js
+++ b/coral-component-toast/src/scripts/Toast.js
@@ -310,8 +310,11 @@ const Toast = Decorator(class extends BaseOverlay(BaseComponent(HTMLElement)) {
 
     // Set the role attribute to alert or status depending on
     // the variant so that the element turns into a live region
+    // aria-live set to assertlive after 1.5 seconds so screen readers will announce the message once the property is updated
     this.setAttribute('role', this._variant);
-    this.setAttribute('aria-live', 'polite');
+    setTimeout(() =>{
+      this.setAttribute('aria-live', 'assertive');
+    }, 1500);
   }
 
   /**