Not many people can say that they owned their own business only a year after graduating from college. Eddie Alverez is one of the few people who can. Eddie is only 26 years old and owns his own storefront called “Secondwave Exchange,” selling returned and liquidated items at a lower cost in St. George’s, Delaware. Eddie, alongside his partner, Heidi, runs the business together, ensuring items are regularly stocked and sold, cater to customers’ wants and needs, and are consistently on the hunt for new items to display in their business.
He had always been a good student with an entrepreneurial spirit. At 14, he was initially introduced to the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI) after he very suddenly lost his vision due to undergoing a 12-hour surgery to remove a brain tumor located at the back of his optic nerve. He first met the DVI employees he would be working with after the surgery in the hospital.
Eddie was provided with a variety of DVI services to support his independence and guarantee a full life after vision loss. Initially, he received educational services from DVI to ensure that he was learning at the same pace as his peers and to support his academic success. He was also provided with Orientation & Mobility (O&M) services to ensure he could navigate and move safely within his school, home, and familiar surroundings.
With hard work and dedication, Eddie thrived in school and continued his pursuit of a career in business. To support this, he received Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services from DVI. Through the Pre-ETS program, which helps students with visual impairments prepare for post-secondary education and employment, Eddie was able to attend beneficial events that help develop essential skills and knowledge. This included Envision Level-Up, which helps build crucial skills for educational and career success for students with visual impairments.
Eddie attended Goldey-Beacom College, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration and continued to receive support from VR. Eddie received support from Gayle Parola, his VR Counselor, who assisted him with job search services and, ultimately, self-employment services through one of DVI’s vendors. During his search for his first job after college, Eddie encountered several obstacles. As he applied for positions in his field, Eddie was unable to secure a job because of reasons such as “not enough experience” or simply “not being the right fit.” This is the time Eddie decided to take matters into his own hands.
He knew he had the work ethic, knowledge, and the right skills for building his own business, so Eddie thought, “Why not do it myself?” Some of this thought process he attributes to what he learned at DVI, “Yeah, I really learned how to advocate for myself at DVI and actually take action to achieve what I want.” Mentions Eddie. Ultimately, Eddie had faith in his abilities and was confident that with sufficient effort, he could establish a successful business.
And that is exactly what he achieved. He has now run his storefront with Heidi for almost seven months and has no plans to stop anytime soon. He is only thinking about new ways to expand his business and acquire more space for the storefront. Despite facing numerous roadblocks throughout his life, Eddie never let adversity define him. He took a leap of faith, trusted his own potential, and refused to settle for less than what he dreamed of. Today, Eddie is not only running a successful business with his partner but also living proof that perseverance and self-belief can turn obstacles into opportunities. He knew what he wanted—and he made it happen through courage, determination, and dedication.
DVI’s VR program helps remove the barriers that individuals with vision loss face in order to find or maintain a job. For information about how DVI’s VR program can help you or someone you know, contact your nearest office or call 302-255-9800. The Mission of DVI is to provide educational, vocational, and technical support to empower and foster independence for Delawareans with visual impairments.
