My name is Bob Gordon. I am a Navy Veteran & I am the Captain of the Lansdale American Legion Family Post 206 Team for the 2022 Eagles Autism Challenge.

     The mission of the Eagles Autism Foundation is to support the highest quality and most impactful autism research and care to improve the lives of affected individuals and families.

     Currently, there are an estimated 1.2 million children in active-duty military families. Based on the 2020 TRICARE report to Congress, there were an estimated 34,361 military autistic children in FY2019, including an estimated 20,735 children of active-duty military families. Their families face all the emotions and challenges that accompany having a child diagnosed with autism, compounded by the realities of military service: war, extended family separation, frequent moves, varying access to specialized healthcare, and other stressors that complicate and often work against effective treatment for children with autism. These families need help navigating these uncharted and difficult waters.