AMERICA | 54-year-old, LaShawn Benita Harley-Hill has proven that disability is not inability.
Despite losing her sight to diabetes in 2017, she defied all odds to graduate with a Master’s degree in Counseling from Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS), finishing with a remarkable 3.90/4.00 GPA.
Her walk across the stage during her graduation, guided by one of her advocates, earned a standing ovation from the audience, a symbolic reflection of her long, difficult journey to academic success.
Benita's Story and How She Did It
Benita’s life changed forever on January 17, 2017, when she went completely blind following years of gradual eyesight decline due to diabetes. This sudden shift left her devastated for a period of time.
She recalled that it was more painful because it happened a day after Founder’s Day for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., an organization she was an active member of during her undergraduate days at Morgan State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“I thought, ‘God, I can’t do this. I felt like a burden because I had to depend on people,” she recalled.
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But with encouragement from her husband, Columbus, and faith that her story was not over, Benita began learning to adapt to her new reality.
She relied on a wide support system, from her husband reorganizing their home for accessibility to the Louisiana Association of the Blind (LAB) providing her with assistive technology like a smart cane, a screen-reading computer, and technical training.
Five years after her unfortunate incident, encouragement from an employment specialist with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services made Benita return to university. The specialist also awarded a grant, making the school financially possible.
School was not that easy; however, Benita pushed through with support from her family and friends.
Despite the challenges of navigating coursework without sight, she excelled, often recording lectures for playback, listening to materials with screen readers, and receiving research help from librarians.
Also, her professors at LSUS made learning possible by converting assignments into accessible formats, while classmates and church members checked in on her, offering encouragement when things became overwhelming.
“There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel. But I didn’t give up,” she admitted.
In 2025, she proudly graduated with a master’s degree in Counseling (Rehabilitation track), proving that patience, faith, and determination can turn barriers into stepping stones.
Now that she has graduated, Benita is beginning her career as a counselor, specializing in supporting individuals with disabilities, addiction struggles, and other life challenges.
“A disability doesn’t stop you from doing things — it might just slow you down a little. We can do just as much as anybody else; it might just take longer,” she said.
Looking back, Benita said her greatest joy is knowing she can now use her story to inspire others. “I hope I can be an inspiration and an example of not giving up. Anything is possible through faith, and you can do anything if you set your mind to it,” she said.
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