WELCOME TO NOW WHAT? PATHWAYS

Empowering young adults to build skills, confidence, and pathways to
independence

FREE | Independent
Transition Support

5th Annual Sussex County Transition Fair 2026
March 26th - 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Sussex Tech High School
17099 County Seat Hwy, Georgetown, DE

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ABOUT NOW WHAT? PATHWAYS

Empowering Young Adults to Navigate Life After High School

Now What? Pathways is a nonprofit organization that provides structured, non-clinical transition support for young adults with disabilities and their families after high school graduation. We help individuals ages 18–26 who have exited special education and are unsure of their next steps in adulthood. Our program focuses on life readiness, confidence-building, goal exploration, and connection to existing community resources such as vocational rehabilitation, employment services, post-secondary options, and independent living supports.

Our mission is to walk alongside families during the uncertain “now what?” period after graduation—until they are ready to move forward independently.

“For too many young adults with disabilities, graduation isn’t a celebration—it’s a cliff. Now What? Pathways exists to make sure no one has to face that drop alone.”
— Duane E. Smith, M.Ed., Founder

LATEST UPDATES

Now What? Pathways - Bridging The Gap

The Bridging the Gap program will support measurable outcomes that improve independence, economic stability, and community engagement for participants. Expected outcomes include: • Participants will develop individualized transition plans focused on employment and independent living goals. • At least 75% of participants will obtain or secure necessary identification documents such as state ID or driver’s licenses. • Participants will complete workforce readiness coaching incl

Mar 91 min read

How Now What? Goes the Extra Mile

Removing Real Barriers—Not Just Offering Advice For many young adults after high school, the biggest obstacle to moving forward isn’t motivation, readiness, or effort — it’s a small but very real barrier that no one else helps remove. At Now What? Pathways, we believe support should be practical, respectful, and rooted in real life. That’s why, when funding allows, we may help cover certain required costs that often stand in the way of independence, such as state ID fees or d

Feb 101 min read

Walking Beside Them: How Our Case Managers Work One-on-One

When a young adult comes to Now What? Pathways, they don’t come with just one need. They come with questions, uncertainty, and often a quiet fear that they’re already behind. That’s where our case managers step in—not to take over, but to walk beside them. Each participant is paired with a case manager who works one-on-one over an 8–12 week period , meeting them where they are and helping them move forward at their own pace. For some young adults, that means learning how to p

Feb 52 min read

Empowering young adults to build skills, confidence, and pathways to independence

FREE | Independent Transition Support

5th Annual Sussex County Transition Fair 2026 March 26th - 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm Sussex Tech High School 17099 County Seat Hwy, Georgetown, DE