diff --git a/blocks/admin/block_admin.php b/blocks/admin/block_admin.php
index 14951d8c2c5..9eccdda57c1 100644
--- a/blocks/admin/block_admin.php
+++ b/blocks/admin/block_admin.php
@@ -113,7 +113,9 @@ class block_admin extends block_list {
             $fullname = fullname($USER, true);
             $editmyprofile = '<a title="'.$fullname.'" href="'.$CFG->wwwroot.'/user/edit.php?id='.$USER->id.'&amp;course='.$this->instance->pageid.'">'.get_string('editmyprofile').'</a>';
             if (empty($USER->description)) {
-                $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile." <blink>*</blink>";
+            	//Accessibility: replace non-standard <blink> with CSS (<a> makes title visible in IE).
+                $text = get_string('profile').' '.get_string('missingdescription');
+                $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile.' <a title="'.$text.'" class="useredit blink">*<span class="accesshide">'.$text.'</span></a>';
             } else {
                 $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile;
             }
@@ -208,7 +210,9 @@ class block_admin extends block_list {
             $editmyprofile = '<a title="'.$fullname.'" href="'.$CFG->wwwroot.'/user/edit.php?id='.
                              $USER->id.'&amp;course='.$this->instance->pageid.'">'.get_string('editmyprofile').'</a>';
             if (empty($USER->description)) {
-                $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile." <blink>*</blink>";
+            	//Accessibility: replace non-standard <blink> with CSS (<a> makes title visible in IE).
+                $text = get_string('profile').' '.get_string('missingdescription');
+                $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile.' <a title="'.$text.'" class="useredit blink">*<span class="accesshide">'.$text.'</span></a>';
             } else {
                 $this->content->items[]= $editmyprofile;
             }
diff --git a/theme/standard/styles_fonts.css b/theme/standard/styles_fonts.css
index d7e45aaf9bd..3e2131e2c29 100644
--- a/theme/standard/styles_fonts.css
+++ b/theme/standard/styles_fonts.css
@@ -141,6 +141,11 @@ img.resize {
 acronym, abbr {
   cursor: help;
 }
+a.useredit, a:hover.useredit, .blink {
+  color: black;
+  text-decoration: blink;
+  cursor: help;
+}
 
 /***
  *** Header