New career for Aspie at 58?

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I have been a truck driver for 12 years. Previously I worked in the publishing field as a writer and editor; also in municipal government as an Engineering Technician. But both those jobs were years ago and the landscape has changed; also I have no recent experience in either.
But I had a truck accident last month; currently I am on Workers Compensation, which pays for the medical bills, but not the lost wages, and so I have no income. Cannot qualify for unemployment since my doctor has me on restricted duty, and the company fired me anyway so I couldn't even do less physical work for them.
I need to make a change but I don't know what to do and it is causing me great stress.
Has anyone at this stage in life made a career/job change that was pretty dramatic? And if so, how did you do it? I would be very interested in hearing from you.

Maybe you could freelance as a writer/editor.

Or perhaps you could go back to being an "engineering technician." Or perhaps a consultant to an engineering project.

It seems as if you don't have much "gaps" in your employment. You're on Workers Comp, so this is not really a "gap."

You could certainly be a tutor, while searching for other work.

Others will certainly chime in.

My guess is that you are more likely to find something in writing than as a technician--I think there is a great need for accurate technical writing, but few have the technical background to do anything but parrot what they are told.

Would you be in a position to do some qualifications and re-train? Maybe become a trainer or teacher to make use of your years of experience? Maybe engineering or whatever the subject you used to write about?

I wonder whether you could teach people to drive trucks, thereby keeping and utilising your current experience and expanding upon that in a slightly different way. Obviously I don't know if your situation would allow for that but you wouldn't have to cover as many miles as you probably had to and you would get to sleep in your own bed every night.

I have to say that your ex employers sound like a nasty bunch, don't they believe in supporting their workers?

Hope you get sorted.

I've seen a lot of people at your age make the switch to teaching high school. I guess because you have a lot of experience and hopefully wisdom to impart. That's one of the more valuable assets someone your age would have.

Thank you all for your ideas. I appreciate it. I'm still open to new suggestions. I am a little apprehensive about truck driving as I recently was in a bad accident and am a little bit shell-shocked. It would be great to have something I could do from home; I know the internet is supposed to be a place where people can earn money from home, but I don't understand how that could work? Is there anyone out there who is doing something on the internet and earning a living? If so, I'd be very interested in hearing how that is done. Thanks!

Truck driving is not for everyone.

I couldn't be a truck driver unless I only drove on the highway.

I was an avid watcher of "Ice Road Truckers." I've always wanted to be a truck driver since I was a 15 year old kid who wanted to talk on the CB to pick up girls.

How about being a bookkeeper?

Sounds like you're in the USA. Does your state have a Dept. of Rehabilitation? I believe their mission is to provide job retraining.

I work for the following company that was founded to provide work for people on the spectrum.
Maybe it's a fit? Best wishes to you.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13xM ... GLUQU/edit

I think it's unfair for the company to fire you after an accident.

It's an occupational hazard which each and every driver faces. The company should stand behind you.