Nancy Prokash is getting ready to start a new chapter in her life. The Shawano resident recently retired from her job working for the state as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
“I have been able to do what I’ve done because I’ve put my trust in God,” she said.
Prokash was born with a severe form of spina bifida, which greatly limited her mobility. Since there were limited resources when she was growing up in Shawano, her late father, Floyd Prokash, put together her first set of crutches.
“My parents had taken the approach to see what I could do versus what the doctors were telling them I couldn’t do,” Prokash said. “They were also putting their trust in God.”
Prokash graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a Bachelor of Science degree in vocational rehabilitation and a minor in early childhood education. She earned a master’s in rehabilitation counseling. Her first job was working with young children who had disabilities.
“My goal was to help parents set goals for their children much as they would if their child didn’t have a disability,” Prokash said. “It doesn’t matter if we have a disability or not. We need to focus on our abilities.”
Prokash worked in Wisconsin Rapids before coming to Shawano. For more than 25 years, she assisted people with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. She worked for the vocational rehabilitation division of the state Department of Workforce Development when she retired.
Prokash said her goal was to help people find what they would be able to do and enjoy it.
“I knew early on that my disability was something God wanted me to use to help others,” she said.
God has been a major part of her life, Prokash said.
“I believe that God has given us all gifts to use,” she said. “We all have strengths and weaknesses.”
Prokash said everyone needs to be open for what God has planned and to see free will as a gift from God.
Years of using crutches and braces to get around caught up with her, Prokash said. After a good rest, she will see what the future holds.
“God will show me what He has in mind for my next venture,” Prokash said. “We need to be open to what God has in store for us.”
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