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Abigail (Abby) Rekas, J.D

Contact Information

Tel.: 353 (0)91 4944012
Office: CDLP, Block T, NUI Galway.
email: abigail.rekasnuigalway.ie

Biography

Abby's DREAM topic is focused on using digital technology to increase access to print and other copyrighted material for people with print disabilities.

As part of her work in the CDLP, Abby has worked on a paper entitled 'Tracking the Progress of an International Instrument for the Print Disabled at WIPO".

She graduated Summa Cum Laud from the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with departmental honors in 2007. Abby had previously studied Acting at Emerson College, transferring to UMass in 2005. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 2011.

She fell into her work in disability rights almost by accident. Northeastern University School of Law requires that all students obtaining a JD complete four "co-op" placements in the legal field. Two of her four placements had been in the field of "soft" intellectual property (the music and film industry, with a touch of publishing for spice). Her last co-op placement was with the Centre for Disability Law & Police at NUI Galway in Ireland. Abby was offered a co-op position to examine the negotiations at WIPO over a treaty (or joint recommendation) to create greater access to copyrighted material for persons with print disability. Her familiarity with copyright law and some familiarity with international law helped her make sense of the various proposals. Her sense of social justice combined with her strong love of books made her a passionate advocate for greater access to copyrighted material world wide and committed to ending the book famine.

Abby's other interests include acting, singing (formerly she was the lead singer of a Boston powerpop/punk influenced band, and she also sang in a chamber choir at University) and animal rights.

Working Papers

• Rekas, A., ' Tracking the Progress of an International Instrument for the Print Disabled at WIPO', Working Paper, NUIG CDLP, November 2011