ABOUT NOW WHAT? PATHWAYS

Who We Are and Why We Exist

Now What? Pathways was created to answer a question that too many families in Sussex County, Delaware are left asking after high school graduation:

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“Now what?”

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For many young adults—especially those with disabilities—graduation is not a launch point. It is the moment when structured support ends, services disappear, and families are expected to navigate complex adult systems alone. The result is often confusion, stalled progress, isolation, and lost potential—not because these young adults lack ability, but because the system stops too soon.

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Now What? Pathways exists to fill that gap.

We provide post-graduation transition support for young adults with disabilities and their families—offering guidance, readiness building, and practical navigation during the critical period after school-based services end. We are not a school, a clinical provider, or a placement agency. Instead, we serve as a bridge, walking alongside individuals and families until they are ready to move forward independently.

 

Why We Do What We Do

This organization was born out of lived experience, not theory.

For decades, our founder watched capable, motivated students graduate with diplomas—and then quietly fall through the cracks. Some struggled to find work. Others attempted college without the supports they once had and withdrew discouraged. Many stayed home, disconnected from meaningful opportunity, while families carried the burden alone.

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What became clear over time was this:

The system did not fail because it broke—it failed because it ended too soon.

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Now What? Pathways was created to extend support beyond graduation in a way that is ethical, community-based, and centered on readiness rather than pressure.

 

About the Founder

Duane E. Smith, M.Ed. is the founder of Now What? Pathways. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, an educator, author, and long-time advocate for students and families navigating complex transitions.

Duane holds a master’s degree in education and has spent more than three decades working in public education, primarily in special education. He has served as a teacher, case manager, and transition-focused educator, working closely with students with disabilities and their families to prepare for life beyond high school.

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For the 2025–2026 school year, Duane serves as the Special Education Ambassador at Sussex Central High School (SCHS)—a role that reflects both his professional credibility and his commitment to improving outcomes for students with disabilities at the school and community level.

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In addition to his work in education, Duane is the author of the “Now What?” book series, which focuses on life transitions, including:

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• graduating from high school,

• graduating from college,

• leaving the military,

• entering retirement, and

• navigating major life changes with clarity and purpose.
   

The themes across his writing and professional work are consistent: honesty, preparation, dignity, and shared responsibility during times of transition.

 

Our Commitment to Sussex County

Now What? Pathways is rooted in Sussex County, Delaware, and our work is intentionally local and community-focused. We recognize the unique challenges families face in this region, including:

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• limited access to affordable post-graduation supports,

• transportation barriers,

• long waitlists for adult services,

• and systems that assume independence before readiness.
   

We believe meaningful change happens when support is:

• relationship-based,

• realistic,

• transparent,

• and responsive to the actual needs of families.
   

Our goal is not to replace existing agencies, but to work alongside schools, providers, and community partners to ensure young adults are not left without guidance during one of the most vulnerable transitions of their lives.

 

Our Values

• Transparency: Families deserve honest guidance, not false promises.
   

• Dignity: Every young adult has value beyond labels or eligibility categories.
   

• Readiness First: Progress happens when confidence and skills are built before placement.
   

• Community Responsibility: Supporting transitions is not the job of one system—it belongs to all of us.
   

 

Looking Forward

Now What? Pathways was created to meet a real need, at a real moment, for real people. As we grow, our commitment remains the same: to walk with young adults and families until they are ready to walk on their own—and to ensure that graduation never means being forgotten.