Transmission problems-96 Lumina

I pulled over to yield for a fire engine and once I accelerated, the car went from 1st into 2nd gear, jolted, and I was unable to get it out of 1st gear. It would only drive 15-20 mph, then it seemed to switch gears, and then fall back. I managed to get it home and now it seems that neutral and reverse are gone since there is only a ticking sound when I have changed into these gears as well as in park now. I am no car expert and want opinions on if my transmission is just totally screwed or if there could possibly be a much cheaper fix than having it taken to a transmission repair shop where I would be at their mercy ($$$). I have been told that the simplest thing to check for is the ATF level but even I am having trouble reading the level as it seems that the dipstick reading only appears on half of the dipstick, I don't mean halfway between cold and hot readings but holding the dipstick at eye level, only the bottom half of the dipstick shows the level. All advice would be greatly appreciated.

sounds like either the torque converter or front pump took a dump on you.