diff --git a/src/components/pages/AdditionalServicesStep/AdditionalServicesStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/AdditionalServicesStep/AdditionalServicesStep.tsx
index 2813f41..56735c8 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/AdditionalServicesStep/AdditionalServicesStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/AdditionalServicesStep/AdditionalServicesStep.tsx
@@ -151,9 +151,10 @@ export const AdditionalServicesStep: React.FC<AdditionalServicesStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Section 1: Complimentary inclusions ─── */}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/AuthGateStep/AuthGateStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/AuthGateStep/AuthGateStep.tsx
index c7633fb..c22bb90 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/AuthGateStep/AuthGateStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/AuthGateStep/AuthGateStep.tsx
@@ -156,9 +156,10 @@ export const AuthGateStep: React.FC<AuthGateStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Sub-step 1: SSO + Email ─── */}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/CemeteryStep/CemeteryStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/CemeteryStep/CemeteryStep.tsx
index f5d8dbd..8326f25 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/CemeteryStep/CemeteryStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/CemeteryStep/CemeteryStep.tsx
@@ -159,9 +159,10 @@ export const CemeteryStep: React.FC<CemeteryStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Burial plot question ─── */}
@@ -177,7 +178,11 @@ export const CemeteryStep: React.FC<CemeteryStepProps> = ({
             <FormControlLabel value="no" control={<Radio />} label="No, we need to find one" />
           </RadioGroup>
           {errors?.burialOwn && (
-            <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 0.5 }} role="alert">
+            <Typography
+              variant="body2"
+              sx={{ mt: 0.5, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+              role="alert"
+            >
               {errors.burialOwn}
             </Typography>
           )}
@@ -201,7 +206,11 @@ export const CemeteryStep: React.FC<CemeteryStepProps> = ({
               />
             </RadioGroup>
             {errors?.burialCustom && (
-              <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 0.5 }} role="alert">
+              <Typography
+                variant="body2"
+                sx={{ mt: 0.5, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+                role="alert"
+              >
                 {errors.burialCustom}
               </Typography>
             )}
@@ -257,7 +266,11 @@ export const CemeteryStep: React.FC<CemeteryStepProps> = ({
             </Box>
 
             {errors?.selectedCemeteryId && (
-              <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 1 }} role="alert">
+              <Typography
+                variant="body2"
+                sx={{ mt: 1, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+                role="alert"
+              >
                 {errors.selectedCemeteryId}
               </Typography>
             )}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/CoffinDetailsStep/CoffinDetailsStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/CoffinDetailsStep/CoffinDetailsStep.tsx
index 0f80f64..9d9ee5d 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/CoffinDetailsStep/CoffinDetailsStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/CoffinDetailsStep/CoffinDetailsStep.tsx
@@ -272,9 +272,10 @@ export const CoffinDetailsStep: React.FC<CoffinDetailsStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         <OptionSection
diff --git a/src/components/pages/CoffinsStep/CoffinsStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/CoffinsStep/CoffinsStep.tsx
index ef36783..2477919 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/CoffinsStep/CoffinsStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/CoffinsStep/CoffinsStep.tsx
@@ -191,9 +191,10 @@ export const CoffinsStep: React.FC<CoffinsStepProps> = ({
     <Box
       component="form"
       noValidate
+      aria-busy={loading}
       onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
         e.preventDefault();
-        onContinue();
+        if (!loading) onContinue();
       }}
     >
       {/* Page heading */}
@@ -293,11 +294,26 @@ export const CoffinsStep: React.FC<CoffinsStepProps> = ({
             </Box>
           </Card>
         ))}
+
+        {coffins.length === 0 && (
+          <Box sx={{ py: 6, textAlign: 'center', gridColumn: '1 / -1' }}>
+            <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary" sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+              No coffins match your selected filters.
+            </Typography>
+            <Typography variant="body2" color="text.secondary">
+              Try adjusting the category or price range.
+            </Typography>
+          </Box>
+        )}
       </Box>
 
       {/* Validation error */}
       {errors?.selectedCoffinId && (
-        <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mb: 2 }} role="alert">
+        <Typography
+          variant="body2"
+          sx={{ mb: 2, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+          role="alert"
+        >
           {errors.selectedCoffinId}
         </Typography>
       )}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/CrematoriumStep/CrematoriumStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/CrematoriumStep/CrematoriumStep.tsx
index 1638104..4b65320 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/CrematoriumStep/CrematoriumStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/CrematoriumStep/CrematoriumStep.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import Box from '@mui/material/Box';
 import TextField from '@mui/material/TextField';
+import MenuItem from '@mui/material/MenuItem';
 import FormControl from '@mui/material/FormControl';
 import FormLabel from '@mui/material/FormLabel';
 import FormControlLabel from '@mui/material/FormControlLabel';
@@ -151,9 +152,10 @@ export const CrematoriumStep: React.FC<CrematoriumStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Crematorium selection ─── */}
@@ -226,7 +228,11 @@ export const CrematoriumStep: React.FC<CrematoriumStepProps> = ({
           )}
 
           {errors?.selectedCrematoriumId && (
-            <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 1 }} role="alert">
+            <Typography
+              variant="body2"
+              sx={{ mt: 1, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+              role="alert"
+            >
               {errors.selectedCrematoriumId}
             </Typography>
           )}
@@ -250,7 +256,11 @@ export const CrematoriumStep: React.FC<CrematoriumStepProps> = ({
             <FormControlLabel value="no" control={<Radio />} label="No" />
           </RadioGroup>
           {errors?.attend && (
-            <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 0.5 }} role="alert">
+            <Typography
+              variant="body2"
+              sx={{ mt: 0.5, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+              role="alert"
+            >
               {errors.attend}
             </Typography>
           )}
@@ -268,9 +278,9 @@ export const CrematoriumStep: React.FC<CrematoriumStepProps> = ({
             sx={{ mb: 3 }}
           >
             {priorityOptions.map((opt) => (
-              <option key={opt.value} value={opt.value}>
+              <MenuItem key={opt.value} value={opt.value}>
                 {opt.label}
-              </option>
+              </MenuItem>
             ))}
           </TextField>
         )}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/DateTimeStep/DateTimeStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/DateTimeStep/DateTimeStep.tsx
index ac91dc6..f809af4 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/DateTimeStep/DateTimeStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/DateTimeStep/DateTimeStep.tsx
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ export const DateTimeStep: React.FC<DateTimeStepProps> = ({
     onChange({ ...values, [field]: value });
   };
 
-  const personSectionHeading = isAtNeed ? 'About the person who died' : 'About the person';
+  const personSectionHeading = isAtNeed ? 'About the person who has passed' : 'About the person';
 
   const schedulingHeading = isAtNeed
     ? 'When are you hoping to have the service?'
@@ -178,9 +178,10 @@ export const DateTimeStep: React.FC<DateTimeStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Section 1: About the person ─── */}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/IntroStep/IntroStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/IntroStep/IntroStep.tsx
index 616adee..c738852 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/IntroStep/IntroStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/IntroStep/IntroStep.tsx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function getSubheading(values: IntroStepValues): string {
  *
  * Entry point with urgency-sensitive segmentation. User selects who
  * the funeral is for, and (if arranging for someone else) whether
- * that person has died.
+ * that person has passed away.
  *
  * Uses the Centered Form layout variant. Progressive disclosure:
  * selecting "Someone else" reveals the hasPassedAway question.
@@ -117,9 +117,10 @@ export const IntroStep: React.FC<IntroStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* forWhom field */}
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ export const IntroStep: React.FC<IntroStepProps> = ({
         <Collapse in={showHasPassedAway}>
           <Box sx={{ mb: 3 }}>
             <ToggleButtonGroup
-              label="Has the person died?"
+              label="Has this person passed away?"
               options={[
                 {
                   value: 'yes',
diff --git a/src/components/pages/PackagesStep/PackagesStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/PackagesStep/PackagesStep.tsx
index ab68528..654741a 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/PackagesStep/PackagesStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/PackagesStep/PackagesStep.tsx
@@ -221,7 +221,11 @@ export const PackagesStep: React.FC<PackagesStepProps> = ({
 
       {/* Error message */}
       {error && (
-        <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mb: 2 }} role="alert">
+        <Typography
+          variant="body2"
+          sx={{ mb: 2, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+          role="alert"
+        >
           {error}
         </Typography>
       )}
@@ -262,9 +266,12 @@ export const PackagesStep: React.FC<PackagesStepProps> = ({
 
         {packages.length === 0 && (
           <Box sx={{ py: 6, textAlign: 'center' }}>
-            <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary">
+            <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary" sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
               No packages match the selected budget range.
             </Typography>
+            <Typography variant="body2" color="text.secondary">
+              Try selecting &quot;All packages&quot; to see the full range.
+            </Typography>
           </Box>
         )}
       </Box>
diff --git a/src/components/pages/PaymentStep/PaymentStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/PaymentStep/PaymentStep.tsx
index 95ad5c6..11ede5a 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/PaymentStep/PaymentStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/PaymentStep/PaymentStep.tsx
@@ -161,9 +161,10 @@ export const PaymentStep: React.FC<PaymentStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onConfirmPayment();
+          if (!loading) onConfirmPayment();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Payment plan ─── */}
@@ -229,7 +230,11 @@ export const PaymentStep: React.FC<PaymentStepProps> = ({
               </Paper>
             )}
             {errors?.card && (
-              <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mt: 1 }} role="alert">
+              <Typography
+                variant="body2"
+                sx={{ mt: 1, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+                role="alert"
+              >
                 {errors.card}
               </Typography>
             )}
@@ -310,7 +315,11 @@ export const PaymentStep: React.FC<PaymentStepProps> = ({
           sx={{ mb: 1, alignItems: 'flex-start', '& .MuiCheckbox-root': { pt: 0.5 } }}
         />
         {errors?.termsAccepted && (
-          <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mb: 2, ml: 4 }} role="alert">
+          <Typography
+            variant="body2"
+            sx={{ mb: 2, ml: 4, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+            role="alert"
+          >
             {errors.termsAccepted}
           </Typography>
         )}
diff --git a/src/components/pages/ProvidersStep/ProvidersStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/ProvidersStep/ProvidersStep.tsx
index 122e726..fc53c29 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/ProvidersStep/ProvidersStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/ProvidersStep/ProvidersStep.tsx
@@ -188,12 +188,16 @@ export const ProvidersStep: React.FC<ProvidersStepProps> = ({
         sx={{ mb: 2, display: 'block' }}
         aria-live="polite"
       >
-        Showing results from {providers.length} provider{providers.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''}
+        {providers.length} provider{providers.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''} found
       </Typography>
 
       {/* Error message */}
       {error && (
-        <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mb: 2 }} role="alert">
+        <Typography
+          variant="body2"
+          sx={{ mb: 2, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+          role="alert"
+        >
           {error}
         </Typography>
       )}
@@ -230,9 +234,12 @@ export const ProvidersStep: React.FC<ProvidersStepProps> = ({
               textAlign: 'center',
             }}
           >
-            <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary">
+            <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary" sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
               No providers found matching your search.
             </Typography>
+            <Typography variant="body2" color="text.secondary">
+              Try adjusting your search or clearing filters.
+            </Typography>
           </Box>
         )}
       </Box>
diff --git a/src/components/pages/VenueStep/VenueStep.tsx b/src/components/pages/VenueStep/VenueStep.tsx
index c4a39fc..77f67ff 100644
--- a/src/components/pages/VenueStep/VenueStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/pages/VenueStep/VenueStep.tsx
@@ -207,9 +207,10 @@ export const VenueStep: React.FC<VenueStepProps> = ({
       <Box
         component="form"
         noValidate
+        aria-busy={loading}
         onSubmit={(e: React.FormEvent) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          onContinue();
+          if (!loading) onContinue();
         }}
       >
         {/* ─── Search + Filters ─── */}
@@ -276,11 +277,26 @@ export const VenueStep: React.FC<VenueStepProps> = ({
               }
             />
           ))}
+
+          {venues.length === 0 && (
+            <Box sx={{ py: 6, textAlign: 'center' }}>
+              <Typography variant="body1" color="text.secondary" sx={{ mb: 1 }}>
+                No venues found in this area.
+              </Typography>
+              <Typography variant="body2" color="text.secondary">
+                Try adjusting your search or clearing filters.
+              </Typography>
+            </Box>
+          )}
         </Box>
 
         {/* Validation error */}
         {errors?.selectedVenueId && (
-          <Typography variant="body2" color="error" sx={{ mb: 2 }} role="alert">
+          <Typography
+            variant="body2"
+            sx={{ mb: 2, color: 'var(--fa-color-text-brand)' }}
+            role="alert"
+          >
             {errors.selectedVenueId}
           </Typography>
         )}