Final Thoughts

I started this series not sure what I was getting myself into. I really didn't have a very good idea of what I would be researching, or what the series truly was. What I was most mistaken about was how huge this series was going to become.

I think everyone started work on this series not really sure what it was going to become or even what direction it was headed in. We began by brainstorming and were all very open to new ideas and ways to get this story across. That's where this blog came in.

We provided a place for all our viewers to come and contribute what they would like to see covered in the series. I want to thank all of you on behalf of the entire team for those contributions, they helped us mold our series into what it became. What I am almost most proud of in this series is the user-directed content and the open dialogue this website provided for our viewers.

My initial research focused on alternative methods to treat autism. This includes bio meds and chelation therapy. Although these are controversial treatments, the fact that parents claim this helps their children makes this newsworthy. I also got to take three trips for this series: I went to Lexington, Kentucky for the interview with Dr. Boyd Haley, Kansas City, Missouri for the interview with Dr. Charles Rudolph, and I went to the Thompson Center in Columbia for the interview with Dr. Judith Miles. I think that even these three interviews show the many different sides of the debate that we showcased in "Combating Autism from Within."

I hope that this series sheds light on the subject matter and judging by the dialogue it created on this website, I know that it did. I encourage everyone to check out all of the extras on http://www.komu.com/. We have extra clips from the interviews, slideshows and behind the scenes footage that will give viewers a more in-depth look at what went into this series.

That being said, the series is not over. There is still a one-hour show left that I encourage everyone to watch. I want to thank everyone who helped with this series, and I want to thank everyone who watched it. I would like to thank everyone we interviewed for sharing their expertise with us and with the viewers. I am especially thankful for those of you who watched the series and came to the site to post your comments. The dialogue you participated in is what I am most proud of in this series.

Dr. Miles Airs Today

Our package about Dr. Judith Miles airs today on KOMU. I'm really excited for you all to see it. Dr. Miles works at the Thompson Center which we featured earlier in the series here in Columbia. We thought that it was important to feature Dr. Miles in the series because she presents a side of the causation argument we've yet to feature. Also, it was a story on Dr. Miles' RhoGAM study that started this whole series. You can look at that study which found no link between thimerosal and autism on KOMU's website.

Go to the website to check out the story on Dr. Miles and take a look at our extra web features including a slideshow and a behind the scenes video.

You will also see Dr. Miles featured in the investigation portion of the series which will air next week.

Dr. Rudolph Airs

Our segment about the trip to Kansas City just aired. We talk to Dr. Charles Rudolph about chelation therapy. Though this is a controversial topic, we thought it was important to show you because some people use it to treat autism.







Check out the story here.

You can also look at a behind the scenes video and a slideshow.

Dr. Miles--Robert

After Ashley interviewed Dr. Miles in the summer of 2007, the flood of emails she received is what started this whole series. Getting an interview with Dr. Miles was difficult but it was also imperative to the series, so we headed over to the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodeveopmental Disorders here in Columbia, where she works.

When Dr. Miles was ready for us, we followed her back to her office where we set up for the interview. We talked to Dr. Miles about what the Thompson Center offers, and numerous studies, including one she did, among other things.

After we finished speaking to Dr. Miles, we shot some footage of her working in her office and then some footage of the Thompson Center. When we were done there, we drove back to the newsroom at KOMU.




The series starts soon, I can't wait for you all to see it.

McDonagh Medical Center- First View

Here is a sneak peek for our bloggers about our trip to K.C. thanks to Robert for doing this!

Kansas City--Robert

At my first meeting with Ashley, she ran over the basic premise for the series and told me to start researching something called chelation therapy and how it relates to autism. I immediately got to work looking up different chelators and different methods of chelation as well as the cost of chelation and where chelation therapy was offered around Columbia.

Ashley informed me of a place called the McDonagh Medical Center, which had a case in Missouri Supreme Court a few years back. The case was about their use of chelation therapy, so right away I got to work reading the case to find out more. I didn't immediately find out whether McDonagh treated patients with autism or not, but Justin took over in talking to the clinic and I moved to other areas of chelation research.

Justin, however, found out that McDonagh does treat patients with autism and got an interview with Dr. Charles Rudolph, a partner at McDonagh and we went to Kansas City to interview him. When we got to the clinic, we walked into a waiting room where a woman behind the desk asked if we were with KOMU and said she'd take us back to Dr. Rudolph when we were ready, David, the photographer was getting some exterior shots.
















After he showed us around his office, we set up for the interview. Dr. Rudolph spoke about chelation and other alternative treatments. It was very beneficial to hear an expert talk about a chelation because so much of what I had read in my research was conflicting. After the interview, we shot some footage of his lab and then headed back to Columbia.

This series is coming together so incredibly, I can't wait for you to see it! I'm honored to be a part of it.

Kentucky-First View

Our bloggers get a sneak peek of our Kentucky Trip thanks to Research Assistants Robert and Meredith. This was all shot by our web camera. Thanks to Robert for editing this.

Kentucky--Robert

I agreed to help Ashley in August when she said that she was working on a series for KOMU and that she need research assistants. I thought it would be a pretty easy gig and that maybe I would learn a little. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I started this project with little to no knowledge about autism; I have learned so much about the subject, and it's been anything but easy. I found that out after my first meeting with Ashley where she immediately assigned me to begin research on chelation therapy and its usefullness as a treatment for autism. I have spent many hours working on research for this series and got to hear many of your stories about your experiences with chelation and autism. I also got familiar with many of the big players in the world of autism; not surprisingly Dr. Boyd Haley was among these names. Imagine my excitement when I found out that I'd be able to go with Ashley to Lexington, Kentucky to interview him.

The trip was absolutely incredible. We left at six in the morning on Sunday from KOMU and just about the first thing we did once we arrived was meet up with Dr. Haley at his lab off the UK campus. We did the interview there, which lasted a little over hour. Then we shot some footage of him working in his lab and we agreed to meet him again the next day. Monday morning we met Dr. Haley again and he took us to his lab on campus where we got some more footage of him. After we shot some promo shots and stand-ups we left for Missouri.

I can't wait for you all to see this series, it's going to be great.

Introduction-Robert

Hello readers! My name is Robert Kessler, I'm a research assistant for the series "Combating Autism From Within." I have been researching chelation therapy in particular. Feel free to tell me all about it!