Dan Burton

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Autism Light Classic
Updated on May 26, 2015. 

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Autism Light #22 is Dan Burton.

                                                                                                           Former Congressman Dan Burton

Congressman Dan Burton was born on June 21, 1938, and is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He represented Indiana's 5th and 6th congressional districts in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 until his retirement in 2013. His grandson Christian Sarkine has autism. Congressman Burton is an Autism Light because of his efforts when in Congress to advocate for those with autism, including by working to assure better access to health care and treatments for those with autism. He has been a tireless autism advocate on calling for prevention, research, and safer vaccines.

Here is a YouTube video showing part of an interview with Dan Burton on Autism recorded while he was an active Congressman.

  
On his former Congressional Website he wrote: My only grandson is autistic, so this is an issue that is very close to my heart.

Letter to President George W. Bush: On May 15, 2003, Dan Burton wrote a powerful Letter to President George W. Bush on Autism. Here is a paragraph out of the letter that Congressman Burton sent the President of the United States.

Mr. President, as a Nation we are facing a crisis regarding the dramatic rise in autism rates and the resulting emotional and financial strain placed on families, our educational system--as they attempt to educate these children who have very special needs - and our state Medicaid and disability programs. We face and even greater crisis in the next two decades as the need for adult services and long-term housing for today's autistic children simply explodes (Dan Burton, May 15, 2003). 

Anderson Cooper Interview: In February, 2015, Dan Burton was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN in which the two had a discussion about the safety of mercury in vaccines. Dan Burton believes his grandson Christian Sarkine developed autism shortly after receiving childhood vaccines. (Anderson Cooper, Josh Feldman, February 5, 2015).

Social Media: The following are some social media accounts related to Dan Burton's work.

• Former Congressman Burton's YouTube Channel
• Facebook Page or Dan Burton
• Congressman Burton's Wikipedia Page
• Twitter for Former Congressman Dan Burton @danburton

Thanks to Dan Burton for being an Autism Light. The autism community was blessed to have you in Congress. It is hoped that other politicians will take Congressman Burton's example and make autism their passion.

Autism Light honors diverse heroes to the world of autism. 

Photo Information: The above photo of Dan Burton is in the public domain.