Darcy Elks

Darcy Elks is an educator, consultant, human service evaluator, and advocate for people who are societally devalued. She is also a parent of three children, one of whom has an intellectual disability.

Darcy has worked with many different groups of people across the globe, including people who have themselves been marginalised by society, family members, professionals from different disciplines such as teachers, psychologists, social workers, members of faith communities, and human service providers from a number of fields (intellectual disability, mental health, and aging).

Darcy’s work focuses on encouraging the development of vision, attitudes, structures, and actions that promote social value and inclusion for people with disability and others who have been devalued and excluded. She is passionate about creating inclusive communities where everyone is welcome and where we can each use our gifts for the good of one another.

Darcy’s thinking and work have been greatly influenced by her daughter Mary’s life experiences, and her presentations reflect both personal and professional perspectives.

She was fortunate to work with Dr. Wolfensberger, who is the creator of Social Role Valorisation (SRV). Elements of SRV are woven throughout Darcy’s work.

Now is the time for vision

People with disability and their families have learned that a well-defined and clearly articulated vision to focus, guide, and inspire action in the face of attitudinal obstacles and other setbacks is an essential tool in achieving a full, meaningful, and included life.

In this final pre-conference webinar, Darcy Elks sought to help attendees clearly conceptualise their visions for their family members with disability. She also shared some personal experiences of people with disability and their families about the power of holding a vision.

During this session, Darcy demonstrated the use of the Lifecourse visioning template, a powerful tool for creating a vision.

Darcy provided tools and inspiration to create or enhance your own vision statement. Darcy hoped these 90 minutes will helped attendees to “keep your eyes on the prize” and not acquiesce to prevailing standards of what is “realistic.”

Learn about the other conference speakers and their presentations

Pre-conference webinars

• Webinar 1 – Decision-making in everyday life – Janet Klees
• Webinar 2 – Medical safeguarding – Jo Massarelli and Cathy Ludlum
• Webinar 3 – Now is the time for vision – Darcy Elks

Main conference

• Never too late to get a life – Cathy McMahon and Josey McMahon
• The secrets of fabulous skin self-direction – Margaret Ward
• What happens when I cark it? – Linda Hughes
• Planning ahead: Safeguarding decision-making – Helen Connolly
• The importance of trust and relationship in supported decision-making – Kim Roots
• Dream big! – Laura Esplin and Bernadette Esplin
• Building bridges to neighbourhood – Sarah Faulkner
• Safeguarding a Micro Enterprise for the future – Helen Neale
• Finding and safeguarding a job – Jan Kruger
• What’s the plan? Estate planning consideration for parents and carers – Stacey Bell
• Passing on the “How”: A sibling’s journey – Rebecca Altaffer
• It’s a long game: Planning for a great future for Valen in a constantly changing world – Ann Greer, Valen Litster, and Sally Aubrey
• How to set your Executor up for success – Stacey Bell
• Safeguarding the future: A sibling’s perspective – Libby Ellis
• Dispelling myths about the Disability Support Pension, Rent Assistance, and employment income – Paul Kruger
• Your money, your future – Carolina Albornoz
• Helping relationships flourish – Tim Bavinton
• Who is the person behind the behaviour, and what do they need? – Kane Morgan
• Safeguarding Isaac’s good life through a Service for One – Sheree Henley
• Emma Davidson MLA
• Planning future finances – Chris Oates
• Crafting and safeguarding a meaningful week for Cameron – Karen Caldwell, Cameron Zellner, and Markus Zellner