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 will help you clearly conceptualise your vision for your family member with disability. She’ll also share some personal experiences of people with disability and their families about the power of holding a vision.

During this session, Darcy will demonstrate the use of the Lifecourse visioning template, a powerful tool for creating a vision. A printed copy of the template will be available for all attendees after the session.

You’ll leave this session with the tools and inspiration to create or enhance your own vision statement. Darcy hopes these 90 minutes will help you to “keep your eyes on the prize” and not acquiesce to prevailing standards of what is “realistic.”

About this session

• This is the final webinar in our pre-conference webinar series
• Wednesday, 15 May 2024
• 9:30 am to 11:30 am AEST
• You can attend this webinar independently of the conference by registering for a Pre-conference webinar only ticket (flexible pricing available)
• All three pre-conference webinars are included in the main conference tickets

Register to attend the conference and/or the pre-conference webinars

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

• The secrets of fabulous skin self-direction – Margaret Ward
• Never too late to get a life – Josey McMahon and Cathy McMahon
• Building bridges to neighbourhood – Sarah Faulkner
• Safeguarding a Micro Enterprise for the future – Helen Neale
• Who is the person behind the behaviour, and what do they need? – Kane Morgan
• It’s a long game – Ann Greer, Valen Litster, and Sally Aubrey
• The importance of trust and relationship in supported decision-making – Kim Roots
• A sibling’s perspective – Rebecca Altaffer
• What happens when I cark it? – Linda Hughes
• Safeguarding Isaac’s good life through a Service for One – Sheree Henley
• More speaker details coming soon!

About the Safeguarding the Future conference

• Thursday-Friday, 23-24 May 2024
• 9:00 am – 5:00 pm both days
• Hotel Realm in Canberra
• Optional networking event on Thursday evening
• Three pre-conference webinars included in the main conference ticket
• Pre-conference webinar-only tickets are also available if you can’t attend the main event
• Flexible pricing is available for people with disability and their families from $0.00 to $225.00
• People with disability, their families, friends, and allies, support workers, education professionals, health professionals, and everyone interested in safeguarding the future of people with disability are welcome to attend.

Register to attend the conference and/or the pre-conference webinars