A Public Conversation Challenging Outdated Models and Highlighting Ethical, Evidence-Informed Alternatives
TAMPA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / December 2, 2025 / The Neurodivergent Empowerment Institute (NEI), St. Petersburg's newest integrative health center and neurodivergent-affirming clinic, will host a pivotal presentation titled "The Truth About Autism Treatment" as part of its Grand Opening Wellness Event on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2200 2nd Ave S, Suite 134, St. Petersburg, FL.
Presented by Angela Fisher, PhD, founder of NEI and creator of the Empowerment-Based Integrated Treatment (EBiT) model, this talk directly addresses the widespread confusion, misinformation, and ethical concerns surrounding the concept of "treatment" for autism.
Rather than viewing autism as a defect to correct, Dr. Fisher will examine the harm caused by compliance-based approaches, outdated behavioral programs, and narrow medicalized narratives that have dominated the field for decades.
The presentation will explore:
How common "treatments" for autism evolved historically, and why many fail to respect neurodivergent identity.
The gap between research evidence and what families are routinely told.
How autistic people describe the lived impact of coercive or normalization-focused therapies.
The difference between supporting function and attempting to suppress autistic traits.
The critical role of accommodations, sensory regulation, metabolic health, trauma-informed care, and identity support.
What an ethical, person-centered model of care should look like today.
Dr. Fisher's talk invites families, clinicians, educators, and community members into a candid, evidence-grounded conversation about what genuinely supports autistic people-and what does not.
"Autism does not require a cure," says Fisher. "What requires intervention are the barriers, unmet needs, and misunderstood internal experiences that create suffering. When we stop trying to change autistic people and start supporting them, everything shifts."
Attendees will leave with clarity on:
Why many conventional autism treatments are misaligned with modern science.
Practical methods for supporting regulation, autonomy, and communication.
The emerging role of integrative health, genetics, and nervous system repair.
How to build effective, respectful accommodations that improve quality of life.
The talk is part of NEI's full-day Celebrate & Connect Grand Opening Wellness Event, featuring multidisciplinary presentations on metabolism, trauma, genetics, LGBTQ+ safety, veterans' care, autoimmune conditions, and more.
As part of its mission, NEI offers comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, meaningful accommodations planning, functional medicine consults, peptide protocols, and trauma-informed therapies-all delivered in a sensory-conscious environment that honors neurodivergent identity.
Tickets and full event details are available at: www.empowerautism.me
Event link: https://events.humanitix.com/celebrate-and-connect-a-grand-opening-wellness-event
Media inquiries, interviews, and press access may be arranged through:
Ella Waters
ella@bionicbloom.org
727-371-8355
Contact:
Neurodivergent Empowerment Institute
Attn: Ella Waters
Phone: 727-371-8355
Email: ella@bionicbloom.org
Website: www.empowerautism.me
SOURCE: Bionic Bloom
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire