diff --git a/docs/resources/changelog.md b/docs/resources/changelog.md
index c18d4a6e0..87690312f 100644
--- a/docs/resources/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/resources/changelog.md
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ _During the beta period, these restrictions may be relaxed in the event of a mis
 - Fixed a bug in `<sl-tab-group>` where the divider was on the wrong side when using `placement="end"`
 - Fixed a bug in `<sl-tab-group>` that caused nested tab groups to scroll when using `placement="start|end"` [#815](https://github.com/shoelace-style/shoelace/issues/815)
 - Fixed a bug in `<sl-tooltip>` that caused the target to be lost after a slot change [#831](https://github.com/shoelace-style/shoelace/pull/831)
-- Improved accessibility of `<sl-tab-group>`, `<sl-tab>`, and `<sl-tab-panel>` to work better with screen readers
+- Improved accessibility of `<sl-tab-group>`, `<sl-tab>`, and `<sl-tab-panel>` to announce better in screen readers and by allowing focus on disabled items
+- Improved accessibility of `<sl-menu>` and `<sl-menu-item>` by allowing focus on disabled items
 - Updated Bootstrap Icons to 1.9.1
 - Updated Floating UI to 1.0.0
 
diff --git a/src/components/menu-item/menu-item.styles.ts b/src/components/menu-item/menu-item.styles.ts
index 2cef791b1..70f7e283e 100644
--- a/src/components/menu-item/menu-item.styles.ts
+++ b/src/components/menu-item/menu-item.styles.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default css`
 
   .menu-item.menu-item--disabled {
     outline: none;
-    color: var(--sl-color-neutral-400);
+    opacity: 0.5;
     cursor: not-allowed;
   }
 
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ export default css`
     outline: none;
   }
 
-  :host(:hover:not([aria-disabled='true'])) .menu-item,
-  :host(:focus-visible:not(.sl-focus-invisible):not([aria-disabled='true'])) .menu-item {
+  :host(:hover) .menu-item,
+  :host(:focus-visible:not(.sl-focus-invisible)) .menu-item {
     outline: none;
     background-color: var(--sl-color-primary-600);
     color: var(--sl-color-neutral-0);
diff --git a/src/components/menu/menu.ts b/src/components/menu/menu.ts
index 4a26a9358..45f26dc27 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/menu.ts
+++ b/src/components/menu/menu.ts
@@ -29,21 +29,14 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
   private typeToSelectString = '';
   private typeToSelectTimeout: number;
 
-  firstUpdated() {
+  connectedCallback() {
+    super.connectedCallback();
     this.setAttribute('role', 'menu');
   }
 
-  getAllItems(options: { includeDisabled: boolean } = { includeDisabled: true }) {
+  getAllItems() {
     return [...this.defaultSlot.assignedElements({ flatten: true })].filter((el: HTMLElement) => {
-      if (el.getAttribute('role') !== 'menuitem') {
-        return false;
-      }
-
-      if (!options.includeDisabled && (el as SlMenuItem).disabled) {
-        return false;
-      }
-
-      return true;
+      return el.getAttribute('role') === 'menuitem';
     }) as SlMenuItem[];
   }
 
@@ -52,7 +45,7 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
    * The menu item may or may not have focus, but for keyboard interaction purposes it's considered the "active" item.
    */
   getCurrentItem() {
-    return this.getAllItems({ includeDisabled: false }).find(i => i.getAttribute('tabindex') === '0');
+    return this.getAllItems().find(i => i.getAttribute('tabindex') === '0');
   }
 
   /**
@@ -60,8 +53,8 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
    * `tabindex="-1"` to all other items. This method must be called prior to setting focus on a menu item.
    */
   setCurrentItem(item: SlMenuItem) {
-    const items = this.getAllItems({ includeDisabled: false });
-    const activeItem = item.disabled ? items[0] : item;
+    const items = this.getAllItems();
+    const activeItem = item ?? items[0];
 
     // Update tab indexes
     items.forEach(i => {
@@ -76,7 +69,7 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
    * type-to-select behavior when the menu doesn't have focus.
    */
   typeToSelect(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-    const items = this.getAllItems({ includeDisabled: false });
+    const items = this.getAllItems();
     clearTimeout(this.typeToSelectTimeout);
     this.typeToSelectTimeout = window.setTimeout(() => (this.typeToSelectString = ''), 1000);
 
@@ -129,7 +122,7 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
 
     // Move the selection when pressing down or up
     if (['ArrowDown', 'ArrowUp', 'Home', 'End'].includes(event.key)) {
-      const items = this.getAllItems({ includeDisabled: false });
+      const items = this.getAllItems();
       const activeItem = this.getCurrentItem();
       let index = activeItem ? items.indexOf(activeItem) : 0;
 
@@ -172,7 +165,7 @@ export default class SlMenu extends LitElement {
   }
 
   handleSlotChange() {
-    const items = this.getAllItems({ includeDisabled: false });
+    const items = this.getAllItems();
 
     // Reset the roving tab index when the slotted items change
     if (items.length > 0) {