Committee Meetings
Meetings of the Telecommunications Access for the Deaf and Disabled Administrative Committee (TADDAC), Equipment Program Advisory Committee (EPAC), and California Relay Service Advisory Committee (CRSAC) are each held once a month, although their regular meeting dates will occasionally change. If you plan to attend a committee meeting, check the calendar for the committee meeting date.
The best way to make your voice heard and to meet other members of the DDTP staff and committees is by attending our meetings and events. We want your participation! (click here to view meeting schedule)
TADDAC First Tuesday of each month
EPAC Second Thursday of each month
CRSAC Last Friday of each month
Things to Know Before Coming To The Meeting
Many consumers would like to have as much information as possible in advance of the meeting. To that end, we have provided information below on key issues that matter to the consumer.
The DDTP conference room is equipped with a loop system for assistive listening. Headsets and individual loops may be requested from the Committee Coordinator or the Receptionist.
The DDTP office coordinates sign language interpreting and real-time captioning for all committee meetings. Arrangements for re-voicers and Braille materials may be made by contacting the Committee Coordinator five days in advance. If you have any other needs for meeting communication, please advise the Committee Coordinator, Karen Evangelista at (510) 302-1100, Ext. 110 or TTY: (510) 302-1118.
In order to facilitate communication, it is important that meeting attendees raise their hand and wait to be recognized by the Chair before speaking. When called upon, please sign or speak as slowly and clearly as possible.
Side conversations in voice and sign are very distracting to everyone involved in meetings and are strongly discouraged. Please leave the room to have side conversations, or to access pagers and cellular telephones while the meeting is in session. We also request that all interpreters and attendants refrain from discussing committee related substantive matters in their private conversations. Please turn off pagers and cell phones while in the conference room when meetings are in session.
Team interpreters work on an alternating schedule throughout a meeting, signing for 15-20 minute intervals.
Interpreters are asked not to have side conversations when a meeting is in session. If a Committee Member needs the services of an interpreter outside of the meeting, be sure to ask the interpreter if they are available or on break.
Procedure For Public Input
Written Public Input
Written public input is encouraged, and will be accepted with regard to any item or items on the agenda of a particular committee meeting until adjournment of the meeting. However, if you expect to have your written input read aloud you must have someone present it during the scheduled public input period.
Public Input During Meetings
Anyone wishing to give public input should call in advance to confirm the scheduled time of public input. Sometimes due to rescheduling of agenda items, public input can be moved an hour before or after the scheduled time. It is a good idea to plan on arriving an hour before the scheduled time for public input. The following rules apply:
1. Maximum time allowed is determined by the Chair, but generally shall not exceed 10 minutes per individual.
2. Testimony will be relevant to the topic, shall be civil, and devoid of personal attacks as determined by the Chair.
3. Any person who willfully disrupts any meeting, as determined by the Chair, will be asked to leave the meeting.
Transcription, Video and Audio Taping
No transcription, video or audio taping of meetings will be allowed without prior written approval of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program.
Environmental Guidelines for DDTP Meetings
The DDTP office strives to be accessible to those with Environmental Illness (EI) at all times. You will notice that all meeting agendas carry a request to all attendees to help the DDTP maintain accessiblity for those with EI. There are DDTP staff members, committee members and communications assistants with some level of EI, and visitors with EI may be in the DDTP offices at any time. Therefore, we ask that you refrain from wearing scents whenever you visit the DDTP office, whether for a committee meeting or a visit. We especially request that if someone from your company or organization plans to visit the DDTP office, you make sure to ask them to avoid wearing scents.
Meeting Documents
The DDTP wants all those attending meetings to fully understand what is being discussed and to that end we have provided below several documents which you may wish to download and read prior to attending our meetings.
Glossary and DDTP Acronyms (PDF)
This glossary of DDTP terms was created and developed to provide consumers with an understanding of commonly used terms. (Download)
The standards discussed in this document are meant to outline our expectations of acceptable behavior. The information covers standards for committee members, as well as those who are affiliated with professional organizations (e.g., National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), National Council on Interpreting (NCI), and the American Consortium of Certified Communication Assistants (ACCI) and others who provide services to the DDTP. (Download Coming Soon...)
Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Sections 11120 – 11132).pdf
This law defines the procedures by which state bodies (such as the DDTP) must conduct their meeting open to the public. (Download)
Parliamentary Procedure is commonly used to conduct meetings. Basic Parliamentary Rules are observed by the DDTP committees. (Download)
PUBLIC MEETING NOTIFICATION (TADDAC)
(Download)