diff --git a/app/views/partials/_question.html.haml b/app/views/partials/_question.html.haml
index 06e0fc04..b9b0ac8d 100644
--- a/app/views/partials/_question.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/partials/_question.html.haml
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
       = ff.input :question_id, :as => :quiet
       = ff.input :response_group, :as => :quiet, :value => rg if g && g.display_type == "repeater"
       = ff.input :id, :as => :quiet unless r.new_record?
-      = ff.input :answer_id, :as => :select, :collection => q.answers.map{|a| [a.text, a.id]}, :label => q.text, :input_html => { :disabled => disabled }
+      = ff.input :answer_id, :as => :select, :collection => q.answers.map{|a| [a.text, a.id]}, :include_blank => (renderer != :slider), :label => q.text, :input_html => { :disabled => disabled }
   - else # :default, :inline, :inline_default
     - if q.pick == "one"
       - r = response_for(@response_set, q, nil, rg)
diff --git a/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.selectToUISlider.js b/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.selectToUISlider.js
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..18704d78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.selectToUISlider.js
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+/*
+ * --------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * jQuery-Plugin - selectToUISlider - creates a UI slider component from a select element(s)
+ * by Scott Jehl, scott@filamentgroup.com
+ * http://www.filamentgroup.com
+ * reference article: http://www.filamentgroup.com/lab/update_jquery_ui_16_slider_from_a_select_element/
+ * demo page: http://www.filamentgroup.com/examples/slider_v2/index.html
+ * 
+ * Copyright (c) 2008 Filament Group, Inc
+ * Dual licensed under the MIT (filamentgroup.com/examples/mit-license.txt) and GPL (filamentgroup.com/examples/gpl-license.txt) licenses.
+ *
+ * Usage Notes: please refer to our article above for documentation
+ *  
+ * --------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+
+
+jQuery.fn.selectToUISlider = function(settings){
+	var selects = jQuery(this);
+	
+	//accessible slider options
+	var options = jQuery.extend({
+		labels: 3, //number of visible labels
+		tooltip: true, //show tooltips, boolean
+		tooltipSrc: 'text',//accepts 'value' as well
+		labelSrc: 'value',//accepts 'value' as well	,
+		sliderOptions: null
+	}, settings);
+
+
+	//handle ID attrs - selects each need IDs for handles to find them
+	var handleIds = (function(){
+		var tempArr = [];
+		selects.each(function(){
+			tempArr.push('handle_'+jQuery(this).attr('id'));
+		});
+		return tempArr;
+	})();
+	
+	//array of all option elements in select element (ignores optgroups)
+	var selectOptions = (function(){
+		var opts = [];
+		selects.eq(0).find('option').each(function(){
+			opts.push({
+				value: jQuery(this).attr('value'),
+				text: jQuery(this).text()
+			});
+		});
+		return opts;
+	})();
+	
+	//array of opt groups if present
+	var groups = (function(){
+		if(selects.eq(0).find('optgroup').size()>0){
+			var groupedData = [];
+			selects.eq(0).find('optgroup').each(function(i){
+				groupedData[i] = {};
+				groupedData[i].label = jQuery(this).attr('label');
+				groupedData[i].options = [];
+				jQuery(this).find('option').each(function(){
+					groupedData[i].options.push({text: jQuery(this).text(), value: jQuery(this).attr('value')});
+				});
+			});
+			return groupedData;
+		}
+		else return null;
+	})();	
+	
+	//check if obj is array
+	function isArray(obj) {
+		return obj.constructor == Array;
+	}
+	//return tooltip text from option index
+	function ttText(optIndex){
+		return (options.tooltipSrc == 'text') ? selectOptions[optIndex].text : selectOptions[optIndex].value;
+	}
+	
+	//plugin-generated slider options (can be overridden)
+	var sliderOptions = {
+		step: 1,
+		min: 0,
+		orientation: 'horizontal',
+		max: selectOptions.length-1,
+		range: selects.length > 1,//multiple select elements = true
+		slide: function(e, ui) {//slide function
+				var thisHandle = jQuery(ui.handle);
+				//handle feedback 
+				var textval = ttText(ui.value);
+				thisHandle
+					.attr('aria-valuetext', textval)
+					.attr('aria-valuenow', ui.value)
+					.find('.ui-slider-tooltip .ttContent')
+						.text( textval );
+
+				//control original select menu
+				var currSelect = jQuery('#' + thisHandle.attr('id').split('handle_')[1]);
+				currSelect.find('option').eq(ui.value).attr('selected', 'selected');
+		},
+		values: (function(){
+			var values = [];
+			selects.each(function(){
+				values.push( jQuery(this).get(0).selectedIndex );
+			});
+			return values;
+		})()
+	};
+	
+	//slider options from settings
+	options.sliderOptions = (settings) ? jQuery.extend(sliderOptions, settings.sliderOptions) : sliderOptions;
+		
+	//select element change event	
+	selects.bind('change keyup click', function(){
+		var thisIndex = jQuery(this).get(0).selectedIndex;
+		var thisHandle = jQuery('#handle_'+ jQuery(this).attr('id'));
+		var handleIndex = thisHandle.data('handleNum');
+		thisHandle.parents('.ui-slider:eq(0)').slider("values", handleIndex, thisIndex);
+	});
+	
+
+	//create slider component div
+	var sliderComponent = jQuery('<div></div>');
+
+	//CREATE HANDLES
+	selects.each(function(i){
+		var hidett = '';
+		
+		//associate label for ARIA
+		var thisLabel = jQuery('label[for=' + jQuery(this).attr('id') +']');
+		//labelled by aria doesn't seem to work on slider handle. Using title attr as backup
+		var labelText = (thisLabel.size()>0) ? 'Slider control for '+ thisLabel.text()+'' : '';
+		var thisLabelId = thisLabel.attr('id') || thisLabel.attr('id', 'label_'+handleIds[i]).attr('id');
+		
+		
+		if( options.tooltip == false ){hidett = ' style="display: none;"';}
+		jQuery('<a '+
+				'href="#" tabindex="0" '+
+				'id="'+handleIds[i]+'" '+
+				'class="ui-slider-handle" '+
+				'role="slider" '+
+				'aria-labelledby="'+thisLabelId+'" '+
+				'aria-valuemin="'+options.sliderOptions.min+'" '+
+				'aria-valuemax="'+options.sliderOptions.max+'" '+
+				'aria-valuenow="'+options.sliderOptions.values[i]+'" '+
+				'aria-valuetext="'+ttText(options.sliderOptions.values[i])+'" '+
+			'><span class="screenReaderContext">'+labelText+'</span>'+
+			'<span class="ui-slider-tooltip ui-widget-content ui-corner-all"'+ hidett +'><span class="ttContent"></span>'+
+				'<span class="ui-tooltip-pointer-down ui-widget-content"><span class="ui-tooltip-pointer-down-inner"></span></span>'+
+			'</span></a>')
+			.data('handleNum',i)
+			.appendTo(sliderComponent);
+	});
+	
+	//CREATE SCALE AND TICS
+	
+	//write dl if there are optgroups
+	if(groups) {
+		var inc = 0;
+		var scale = sliderComponent.append('<dl class="ui-slider-scale ui-helper-reset" role="presentation"></dl>').find('.ui-slider-scale:eq(0)');
+		jQuery(groups).each(function(h){
+			scale.append('<dt style="width: '+ (100/groups.length).toFixed(2) +'%' +'; left:'+ (h/(groups.length-1) * 100).toFixed(2)  +'%' +'"><span>'+this.label+'</span></dt>');//class name becomes camelCased label
+			var groupOpts = this.options;
+			jQuery(this.options).each(function(i){
+				var style = (inc == selectOptions.length-1 || inc == 0) ? 'style="display: none;"' : '' ;
+				var labelText = (options.labelSrc == 'text') ? groupOpts[i].text : groupOpts[i].value;
+				scale.append('<dd style="left:'+ leftVal(inc) +'"><span class="ui-slider-label">'+ labelText +'</span><span class="ui-slider-tic ui-widget-content"'+ style +'></span></dd>');
+				inc++;
+			});
+		});
+	}
+	//write ol
+	else {
+		var scale = sliderComponent.append('<ol class="ui-slider-scale ui-helper-reset" role="presentation"></ol>').find('.ui-slider-scale:eq(0)');
+		jQuery(selectOptions).each(function(i){
+			var style = (i == selectOptions.length-1 || i == 0) ? 'style="display: none;"' : '' ;
+			var labelText = (options.labelSrc == 'text') ? this.text : this.value;
+			scale.append('<li style="left:'+ leftVal(i) +'"><span class="ui-slider-label">'+ labelText +'</span><span class="ui-slider-tic ui-widget-content"'+ style +'></span></li>');
+		});
+	}
+	
+	function leftVal(i){
+		return (i/(selectOptions.length-1) * 100).toFixed(2)  +'%';
+		
+	}
+	
+
+	
+	
+	//show and hide labels depending on labels pref
+	//show the last one if there are more than 1 specified
+	if(options.labels > 1) sliderComponent.find('.ui-slider-scale li:last span.ui-slider-label, .ui-slider-scale dd:last span.ui-slider-label').addClass('ui-slider-label-show');
+
+	//set increment
+	var increm = Math.max(1, Math.round(selectOptions.length / options.labels));
+	//show em based on inc
+	for(var j=0; j<selectOptions.length; j+=increm){
+		if((selectOptions.length - j) > increm){//don't show if it's too close to the end label
+			sliderComponent.find('.ui-slider-scale li:eq('+ j +') span.ui-slider-label, .ui-slider-scale dd:eq('+ j +') span.ui-slider-label').addClass('ui-slider-label-show');
+		}
+	}
+
+	//style the dt's
+	sliderComponent.find('.ui-slider-scale dt').each(function(i){
+		jQuery(this).css({
+			'left': ((100 /( groups.length))*i).toFixed(2) + '%'
+		});
+	});
+	
+
+	//inject and return 
+	sliderComponent
+	.insertAfter(jQuery(this).eq(this.length-1))
+	.slider(options.sliderOptions)
+	.attr('role','application')
+	.find('.ui-slider-label')
+	.each(function(){
+		jQuery(this).css('marginLeft', -jQuery(this).width()/2);
+	});
+	
+	//update tooltip arrow inner color
+	sliderComponent.find('.ui-tooltip-pointer-down-inner').each(function(){
+				var bWidth = jQuery('.ui-tooltip-pointer-down-inner').css('borderTopWidth');
+				var bColor = jQuery(this).parents('.ui-slider-tooltip').css('backgroundColor')
+				jQuery(this).css('border-top', bWidth+' solid '+bColor);
+	});
+	
+	var values = sliderComponent.slider('values');
+	
+	if(isArray(values)){
+		jQuery(values).each(function(i){
+			sliderComponent.find('.ui-slider-tooltip .ttContent').eq(i).text( ttText(this) );
+		});
+	}
+	else {
+		sliderComponent.find('.ui-slider-tooltip .ttContent').eq(0).text( ttText(values) );
+	}
+	
+	return this;
+}
+
+
diff --git a/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.surveyor.js b/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.surveyor.js
index 71c19e72..fab074c9 100644
--- a/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.surveyor.js
+++ b/lib/assets/javascripts/surveyor/jquery.surveyor.js
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ jQuery(document).ready(function(){
       }
     });
   });
-
+  
+  // http://www.filamentgroup.com/lab/update_jquery_ui_slider_from_a_select_element_now_with_aria_support/
+  $('fieldset.q_slider select').each(function(i,e){ $(e).selectToUISlider({"labelSrc": "text"}).hide() });
+  
   // If javascript works, we don't need to show dependents from previous sections at the top of the page.
   jQuery("#dependents").remove();
 
diff --git a/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor.sass b/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor.sass
index 59b3be67..dc33212e 100644
--- a/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor.sass
+++ b/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor.sass
@@ -112,6 +112,14 @@ body
   fieldset.q_dropdown, fieldset.q_inline_dropdown, fieldset.q_default_dropdown, fieldset.q_slider, fieldset.q_repeater_dropdown
     label
       :display none
+  fieldset.q_slider
+    :margin-bottom 3em
+    li.select
+      :width 50%
+      :font-size .8em
+    .ui-slider span.ui-slider-label-show
+      :position relative
+      :display inline
     
   // buttons
   input[type="submit"]
diff --git a/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor/ui.slider.extras.css b/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor/ui.slider.extras.css
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..862388b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/assets/stylesheets/surveyor/ui.slider.extras.css
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+/*NEW SLIDER STYLES FOR SCALE, ETC*/
+/* slider widget */
+.ui-slider  {
+	text-decoration: none !important;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-slider-handle  {
+	overflow: visible !important;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-slider-tooltip {
+	display: none;
+}
+.ui-slider .screenReaderContext {
+	position: absolute;
+	width: 0;
+	height: 0;
+	overflow: hidden;
+	left: -999999999px;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-state-active .ui-slider-tooltip, .ui-slider .ui-state-focus .ui-slider-tooltip, .ui-slider .ui-state-hover .ui-slider-tooltip {
+	display: block;
+	position: absolute;
+	bottom: 2.5em;
+	text-align: center;
+	padding: .3em .2em .4em;
+	font-size: .9em;
+	width: 8em;
+	margin-left: -3.7em;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-slider-tooltip .ui-tooltip-pointer-down, .ui-slider .ui-slider-tooltip .ui-tooltip-pointer-down-inner {
+	position: absolute; 
+	display: block;
+	width:0; 
+	height:0; 
+	border-bottom-width: 0;
+	background: none;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-slider-tooltip .ui-tooltip-pointer-down {	
+	border-left: 7px dashed transparent; 
+	border-right: 7px dashed transparent;
+	border-top-width: 8px;
+	bottom:	-8px;
+	right: auto;
+	left: 50%;
+	margin-left: -7px;
+}
+.ui-slider .ui-slider-tooltip .ui-tooltip-pointer-down-inner {
+	border-left: 6px dashed transparent; 
+	border-right: 6px dashed transparent;
+	border-top: 7px solid #fff;
+	bottom:	auto;
+	top: -9px;
+	left: -6px;
+}
+.ui-slider a {
+	text-decoration: none;
+}
+.ui-slider ol, .ui-slider li, .ui-slider dl, .ui-slider dd, .ui-slider dt {
+	list-style: none;
+	margin: 0;
+	padding: 0;
+}
+.ui-slider ol, .ui-slider dl {
+	position: relative;
+	top: 1.3em;
+	width: 100%;
+}
+.ui-slider dt {
+	top: 1.5em;
+	position: absolute;
+	padding-top: .2em;
+	text-align: center;
+	border-bottom: 1px dotted #ddd;
+	height: .7em;
+	color: #999;
+}
+.ui-slider dt span {
+	background: #fff;
+	padding: 0 .5em;
+}
+.ui-slider li, .ui-slider dd {
+	position: absolute;
+	overflow: visible;
+	color: #666;
+}
+.ui-slider span.ui-slider-label {
+	position: absolute;
+}
+.ui-slider li span.ui-slider-label, .ui-slider dd span.ui-slider-label {
+	display: none;
+}
+.ui-slider li span.ui-slider-label-show, .ui-slider dd span.ui-slider-label-show {
+	display: block;
+}
+.ui-slider span.ui-slider-tic {
+	position: absolute;
+	left: 0;
+	height: .8em;
+	top: -1.3em;
+}
+.ui-slider li span.ui-widget-content, .ui-slider dd span.ui-widget-content {
+	border-right: 0;
+	border-left-width: 1px;
+	border-left-style: solid;
+	border-top: 0;
+	border-bottom: 0;
+}
+.ui-slider .first .ui-slider-tic, .ui-slider .last .ui-slider-tic {
+	display: none;
+}
+