English: I asked Members of the National Autistic Society group in Blaenau Gwent to discuss this debate this afternoon, and to ask them what they thought about some of the services that they were receiving. I have to say that their conversation, which I heard over lunchtime, should make us all stop and think about the reality of services that too many people are receiving. We spend a considerable amount of time talking about the pressures that exist on education and social services budgets, but quite often, we say that in the abstract. This morning, we had a very clear impact of how that affects people and children. In Blaenau Gwent, there's clearly a real lack of communication from the local authority. The local authority makes mistakes frequently with the information provided. E-mails are ignored. There's no feedback during processes, and little feedback or response to e-mails. People feel like they don't matter and the authority doesn't care. That's an appalling reflection on our local authority. Too often - and I've seen this in my own caseload - to get into the local school in Pen-y-Cwm, it takes simply too long, and people and children are waiting much, much longer than they should do to have the education they need and deserve. When I stood in front of this place as a Minister responsible for additional learning needs, I gave all Members an undertaking that we would provide the greatest possible educational opportunity for all children and all young people. We have to deliver on that in ensuring that the resources and the structures that deliver that resource are available to people. That is not something that we can wish away. All too often, GPs seem unsure of the appropriate routes for help, and GPs don't understand what should be provided for children or young people that are being presented to them. People are being told that they could try antipsychotic drugs to see whether that will work, and then come back in a few weeks if it doesn't. All too often, to get help and to access services from public bodies, the whole process is confusing. People feel lost in the system. People don't understand where they turn to for help and assistance. All too often we hear stories, usually from mothers who talk about what they go through in trying to deliver the services and the love and the support for their children. One individual woman this morning felt that parents had to reach a real crisis point to be able to access any help. Her son was self-harming and attempting suicide, and she had to call the police on a number of occasions. The services simply weren't there. Transition from child to adult services is also a difficult and sometimes traumatic time -
Welsh: Gofynnais i aelodau grŵp y Gymdeithas Awtistiaeth Genedlaethol ym Mlaenau Gwent drafod y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, a gofyn iddynt beth oedd eu barn am rai o'r gwasanaethau yr oeddent yn eu cael. Rhaid imi ddweud y dylai eu sgwrs, a glywais dros amser cinio, wneud i bawb ohonom oedi a meddwl am realiti'r gwasanaethau y mae gormod o bobl yn eu cael. Treuliwn gryn dipyn o amser yn sôn am y pwysau ar gyllidebau addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, ond yn aml iawn, soniwn am hynny mewn modd haniaethol. Y bore yma, gwelsom yn glir iawn sut y mae hynny'n effeithio ar bobl ac ar blant. Ym Mlaenau Gwent, mae'n amlwg fod diffyg cyfathrebu gwirioneddol ar ran yr awdurdod lleol. Mae'r awdurdod lleol yn gwneud camgymeriadau'n aml gyda'r wybodaeth a ddarperir. Caiff negeseuon e-bost eu hanwybyddu. Ni cheir adborth yn ystod prosesau, a phrin yw'r adborth na'r ymateb i negeseuon e-bost. Mae pobl yn teimlo nad ydynt yn bwysig ac nad yw'r awdurdod yn malio. Mae hwnnw'n ddarlun gwarthus o'n hawdurdod lleol. Yn rhy aml - ac rwyf wedi gweld hyn yn fy llwyth achosion fy hun - er mwyn mynd i'r ysgol leol ym Mhen-y-Cwm, mae'n cymryd gormod o amser, ac mae pobl a phlant yn aros yn llawer iawn hwy nag y dylent ei wneud i gael yr addysg y mae arnynt ei hangen ac y maent yn ei haeddu. Pan sefais o flaen y lle hwn fel Gweinidog a oedd yn gyfrifol am anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, rhoddais addewid i bob Aelod y byddem yn darparu'r cyfle addysgol gorau posibl i bob plentyn ac i bob person ifanc. Rhaid inni gyflawni hynny drwy sicrhau bod yr adnoddau a'r strwythurau sy'n darparu'r adnoddau hynny ar gael i bobl. Nid yw'n rhywbeth y gallwn ddymuno iddo ddiflannu ar ei ben ei hun. Yn rhy aml, mae meddygon teulu fel pe baent yn ansicr ynghylch y ffyrdd priodol o gael cymorth, ac nid yw meddygon teulu yn deall beth y dylid ei ddarparu i'r plant neu'r bobl ifanc a welant. Dywedir wrth bobl y gallent roi cynnig ar gyffuriau gwrthseicotig i weld a fydd hynny'n gweithio, a dod yn ôl ymhen ychydig wythnosau os nad yw'n gweithio. Yn rhy aml, mae'r broses gyfan o gael cymorth a gwasanaethau gan gyrff cyhoeddus yn ddryslyd. Mae pobl yn teimlo eu bod ar goll yn y system. Nid yw pobl yn deall ble i ofyn am help a chymorth. Yn rhy aml clywn straeon, fel arfer gan famau sy'n sôn am yr hyn y maent yn mynd drwyddo wrth geisio darparu'r gwasanaethau a'r cariad a'r gefnogaeth i'w plant. Teimlai un ddynes y bore yma fod yn rhaid i rieni gyrraedd pwynt argyfwng gwirioneddol i allu cael unrhyw gymorth. Roedd ei mab yn hunan-niweidio ac yn ceisio cyflawni hunanladdiad, a bu'n rhaid iddi ffonio'r heddlu ar sawl achlysur. Nid oedd y gwasanaethau yno o gwbl. Mae pontio rhwng gwasanaethau plant ac oedolion hefyd yn gyfnod anodd, ac weithiau'n drawmatig -