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.

Senator Champion Pictures

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.

Michael-Katie

I'm not even sure how to begin this post and start reflecting on our trip to Brookfield to meet the Colliers. The trip was incredible, especially because this was my first time interacting with one of the families we're featuring in the series.

I was struck by these family members' strength and affection for one another. Although Michael is nonverbal and unable to communicate like most of us, his grandparents, father, and sister all said they have no problem interacting with him - Michael just has his own way of communicating.

Each person had the same look on his face when asked about Michael; everyone smiled, sang his praises and spoke with pride about him and his accomplishments. Like Ashley and Mark mentioned, the Colliers stick to a routine and make everything look so easy! They all really helped us to capture a true day in Michael's life; we spent time with him in the classroom, his grandparents' home, and his home. It was nice to be able to see Michael in a variety of setting and watch him learning, playing, laughing, and communicating. Michael's dad and grandfather both said Michael is one of the happiest kids they know.

I hope you all check out the First View of our trip going up soon and look for the Colliers to appear in the series!

Michael Shoot

We had another family shoot this week...
We will post blogs, video, and more pics within the next few days!

Weinmaster-First View

Here is a sneak peek from our webcam when we went to Kansas. Thanks Jessica for doing this!

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!

Dr. Ayoub

Whew! We had an interesting trip. We picked up our photog Andrew in St. Louis. In the process we got turned around in St. Louis, which made us late for Dr. Ayoub. I felt horrible. We have been pretty good about staying on time so far with all this traveling. This was the first time we got lost. It happens and Dr. Ayoub was so kind and still let us interview him.

The interview went well. I tried to focus as best as I could but I was worried about us being late. I got through all my questions. It was fine in the end.

We interviewed Ayoub at the hospital. We have had wireless mic issues in hospitals. I think it has to do with radio waves and machines. So we used the lav cable mic. It is frustrating at times. I love t.v. and visually showing something to the viewer, but in order to do that well....means a lot of work.

Dr. Ayoub gave us great insight on money issues. He will be used for the investigative part of the series. To top it all off, Dr. Ayoub also had a cold at time. However, we all pulled it together and had a great interview session.

I think the best part of the interview was when he responds to his critics and tells me why he fights for what he believes and what his research says.

I can't wait to show you the rest.

McDonagh Medical Center Pictures

Here are some pictures from our Kansas City shoot. Can't wait to show you the story.

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.

Pictures from Dr. Engley Shoot

Our bloggers get a sneak peek of pics from the Dr. Engley shoot. Thanks to Meredith and Mark. Don't forget to check out the first view video and blogs...all labeled Dr. Engley

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.

Pictures from Kentucky

We will have much more on the website once we air the series but this is a preview for our blog readers....
This is the Kentucky group
From Left-Scott (photog), Robert (research assistant), me, and Meredith (research assistant)
Scott will be shooting most of the series. All the assistants are in charge of research and the website for the series...They will have extra video, slide shows, and blogs.

Leaving at 6am

Pretty cool huh? We had a great time...can't wait to share the rest with you!