diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
index ec91c067f5..3fe40e84b6 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_module_view.coffee
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ if Backbone?
       "keydown .discussion-show":
         (event) -> DiscussionUtil.activateOnSpace(event, @toggleDiscussion)
       "click .new-post-btn": "toggleNewPost"
+      "keydown .new-post-btn":
+        (event) -> DiscussionUtil.activateOnSpace(event, @toggleNewPost)
       "click .new-post-cancel": "hideNewPost"
       "click .discussion-paginator a": "navigateToPage"
 
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ if Backbone?
       else
         @page = 1
 
-    toggleNewPost: (event) ->
+    toggleNewPost: (event) =>
       event.preventDefault()
       if !@newPostForm
         @toggleDiscussion()
diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_router.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_router.coffee
index f9c9e44c97..c535c3100f 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_router.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/discussion/discussion_router.coffee
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ if Backbone?
         @nav.on "thread:created", @navigateToThread
         @newPost = $('.new-post-article')
         $('.new-post-btn').bind "click", @showNewPost
+        $('.new-post-btn').bind "keydown", (event) => DiscussionUtil.activateOnSpace(event, @showNewPost)
         $('.new-post-cancel').bind "click", @hideNewPost
 
     allThreads: ->
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
index 1efeeaf751..bfd83b5282 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_course_navigation.html
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
 
 <%block name="extratabs">
 % if has_permission(user, 'create_thread', course.id):
-    <li class="right"><a href="#" class="new-post-btn"><span class="icon icon-edit new-post-icon"></span>${_("New Post")}</a></li>
+    <li class="right"><a href="#" class="new-post-btn" role="button"><span class="icon icon-edit new-post-icon"></span>${_("New Post")}</a></li>
 % endif
 </%block>
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
index b95bce1f07..d84ecb7b85 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/_discussion_module.html
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 
 <div class="discussion-module" data-discussion-id="${discussion_id | h}">
     <a class="discussion-show control-button" href="javascript:void(0)" data-discussion-id="${discussion_id | h}" role="button"><span class="show-hide-discussion-icon"></span><span class="button-text">${_("Show Discussion")}</span></a>
-    <a href="#" class="new-post-btn"><span class="icon icon-edit new-post-icon"></span>${_("New Post")}</a>    
+    <a href="#" class="new-post-btn" role="button"><span class="icon icon-edit new-post-icon"></span>${_("New Post")}</a>
 </div>