Autism Treatment Center Opens In Indy

600 Cases Already Being Handled

POSTED: 4:09 p.m. EST January 23, 2003

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis is now home to the third-largest autism center in the nation.

Riley Hospital for Children on Thursday opened its Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center. The center provides the state's only academic and research program on autism, RTV6's Stacia Matthews reported.

The center is named after the grandson of U.S. Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind. Christian Sarkine is being treated for the developmental disability.

Burton secured nearly $2 million in federal money to make the center possible.

Christian's mother, Danielle Burton-Sarkine, said she believes God was using her son's disability for positive changes.

"God works in mysterious ways. I firmly believe that this happened to Christian for a reason, so that dad would get involved and help make a difference for these kids," Burton-Sarkine said. "He's one of the first politicians to stand up and fight for the rights of these children."

The center already is handling 600 cases, and has a significant waiting list.

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