From "professional" to "autistic"... where do I go now?

I can certainly identify with what you said Teasel, up until my diagnosis a few years ago, I used to do training in my own time and my own expense to get more qualifications and improve to my skills, in the hope that it would lead to a better job etc, but my after my diagnosis and reading about autism, I realised that I had probably been wasting my time, as my autism related problems would prevent me from fully using the extra skills to get a much better job.  Since then I have focussed on trying to get round my autism related problems.

I did that - I've got millions of bits of paper and there's lots of things I can theoretically be excellent at - but I know I couldn't do it in the real world.

I became a technical specialist to avoid managing people.  I did it in the past but found it incredibly stressful dealing with all their odd behaviours.

Techy stuff doesn't lie or take fake sickies or have off-days depending on their mood.

I did that - I've got millions of bits of paper and there's lots of things I can theoretically be excellent at - but I know I couldn't do it in the real world.

I became a technical specialist to avoid managing people.  I did it in the past but found it incredibly stressful dealing with all their odd behaviours.

Techy stuff doesn't lie or take fake sickies or have off-days depending on their mood.