04/03/2016 BBC Wales Today

These children get specialist help for their autism -

but after concern services here are "patchy",

the Welsh Government draws up a new national plan.

They quite often get bandied back and forth between mental health

services and learning disabilities, and that's precisely one

Hundreds march through the capital, calling on politicians to end

to what they say is a "housing crisis".

Plaid Cymru's leader, Leanne Wood, urges voters

who she says feel taken for granted by Labour,

to switch to HER party at May's Assembly election.

And the creator of Superted criticises the red tape that he says

is holding back the Welsh film industry.

I think they've got together around them people who really know how

-- I think they've got to gather around them people who really know

how to package films and how to market and

sell them, rather than, you know, bureaucrats.

In tonight's Sport: We'll visit the World Track Cycling

Championships in London Where Cardiffs Owain Doull will be

aiming for a Second Medal this evening.

A national plan to make sure children and adults with autism

in Wales get consistent support, regardless of where they live,

It follows concerns that services across the country are "patchy".

More than 31,000 people here live with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

And according to a survey of people with autism spectrum disorders,

and their carers, 64% experienced issues with getting a referral

70% had to wait more than 6 months for their first appointment.

Our health correspondent, Owain Clarke, has the details.

How many words beginning with TH can you think of in a minute?

That's the challenge for these pupils at Caedraw primary

Look at my face, look at my lips, THEN.

But each of the children in this class has autism -

a condition that affects, to varying degrees, how they see

the world and interact with each other.

What do you like best about the activities?

It means lessons, and even the classroom,

It is quite different from a mainstream classroom.

Mainly because distractions in the classroom are minimised

and there are other strategies that are used which helps them deal

with transition during the day, so when they move from activities,

they know what's going to happen next and they are prepared.

Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce

a National Autism Plan six years ago.

It's raised awareness of the condition and forced councils

to develop local services, but some children still wait too

Guidelines say it should happen within three months,

but charities claim some wait up to seven years.

People don't recognise that autism is a condition in itself

and they quite often get bandied back and forth between mental health

services and learning disabilities, and that's precisely one

Faced with criticism, autism services across Wales

The National Autism Plan has been revamped with a promise to establish

It will bring health, education, social services,

and even housing together to try to make sure you get the same

As far as we understand, it's the first in the world.

Certainly the first in the UK, and this really is Wales leading

the way and it's leading the way because we've listened to people

about what's worked in the past, what hasn't worked successfully,

and to understand the problem as it exists and then to try to do

But the new national service won't just be there

It's estimated over 31,000 people have autism in Wales,

and amongst those, there'll be many adults who won't be aware

they have the condition, even though diagnosis

Former maths lecturer Ian Walker was told he had Asperger's Syndrome

- a form of autism - five years ago, at the tender

One of the consequences in my case is that I cannot cope

I thought I just had a very, very bad temper, but I think

it is at least part of the Asperger's that makes me

unable to cope with things when they don't go just

Generally speaking, the new plan has been welcomed,

although there are concerns there aren't enough concrete targets

Others argue a new law is needed to back it up, but if the plan means

others benefit like these pupils at Caedraw Primary,

What issues matter most to you ahead of the National Assembly

Hundreds of people turned up outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay this

afternoon to try and get politicians to put housing at the top

Organised by housing groups under the name Homes for Wales campaign,

they claim the country is facing a housing crisis.

They came from all over Wales, people with a common aim to push

housing to the top of the political agenda.

Shelter Cymru, the Home Builders Federation and the Church in Wales

Some here had personal stories to tell, like Emma.

I'm 41, I don't mind admitting that, and I'm still at home

with my parents, just trying to get money together so I can move

It's happening more often, it's more common that people

are getting older now before they can move on to a larger

property or even get a first-time property.

According to the campaigners here, we are facing a housing crisis.

We are only building half the number of homes that we need to each year,

so if we need 12,000 homes a year across Wales,

we are only building just over 6,000.

Families being accepted as homeless - 5,000 last year.

Young people who have to go back home and live with their parents -

We have actually made some progress in the last Assembly term,

but this campaign is not about looking backwards,

it's about looking forwards, it's a real ambition.

If we solve the housing crisis in Wales, we can definitely build

We've spoken to all the main political parties today,

and each has told us housing is a priority.

Tonight, after the march, Emma is going home to her parents.

She counts herself as lucky to have that option,

but says she will be watching this election carefully to see

what the politicians will do for her and others

The remains of a woman who went missing 14 years ago have been found

53-year-old Margaret Llewellyn was last seen at her home

Her disappearance prompted a major search operation,

Gwent Police say her remains were found at Beaufort Quarry,

Two drug dealers from Blaenau Gwent have been jailed after cocaine worth

more than one million pounds was seized by police,

including a large stash at Cwm Crachen Travellers Site in

61-year-old Neil Strange was sentenced to eight and a half

years, and 32-year-old Martyn Pagett to 8 years,

after pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to conspiring

to supply drugs and money laundering.

An injured woman needing ambulance attention was forced to wait

on the side of a busy road in Cardiff for over four hours.

The 58-year-old tripped on a kerb on Penarth Road at around 10.30 this

Her colleagues described her as "absolutely frozen"

while she waited for an ambulance - which didn't reach her until around

A Wales Ambulance Service spokesman said it did not have the resources

The chief executive of the Ambulance Service has apologised.

The leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood's speech to her party

conference has been dominated by attacks on Labour's record

She urged those who felt they'd been taken for granted by Labour,

to switch to Plaid in the election in May.

Leanne Wood also set out the party's offering to voters,

which includes a major re-organisation of the NHS,

and writing off the debts of students who return to Wales.

From Llanelli, our political editor, Nick Servini.

It's the business end of Leanne Wood's leadership of Clyde Cumbrae,

and so she kicked off her day appropriately at an export. And then

to business at the conference to rally the candidates who will be

looking to build up Plaid Cymru's tally of ATMs. In the four years

Leanne Wood has been leader, she won't have had a more important

speech than today. The final conference before the assembly

election. There was little new in policy terms, other than the tone,

which was highly critical of Labour. So many of you understand that our

people have been taken for granted are far too long. That you might

have given a lifetime of loyalty to one party, but you are now asking

what you are getting back in return. Elsewhere, Plaid Cymru set out the

main policies which in health revolve around plans to recruit an

extra 1000 doctors, and a major reorganisation of the NHS to try to

bring hospital and social care closer together. If their policies

are to become a political reality, then inevitably, they are going to

have to strike some kind of deal with another party. As things stand,

the only thing that is off the table is a formal coalition with the

Conservatives and Ukip. That has led to speculation that all roads will

lead to some kind of deal with Labour. The question is whether that

is still possible after such a highly critical speech of labour

there by Leanne Wood. Plaid Cymru refusing to discuss publicly who

they would work with in any detail, claiming it is a huge turn-off to

voters. It is reasonable for voters do expect to know who would do a

deal with him, but that is not the political game we're playing. At the

moment, the aim of the game is to win as many votes as possible,

secure as many seats as possible, and get your own programme at. Their

grassroots were out in force here, but today was about appealing to

disillusioned Labour voters as much as traditional supporters, as the

party tries to get back into government.

What do we learn about the offer that they will put to voters in a

few months? I think in some previous assembly elections, quite often the

parties are arguing about variations on similar themes. This time round,

there are sharply contrasting offerings to the voters out there. I

was particularly struck by that is today. In relation, most evidently,

to Plaid's policy on health. They are the only party at the assembly

going into these elections pledging to bring gain a major restructuring

of the NHS as they try to bring together hospital services and

social care currently run by local authorities. Taken together, that is

the lion's share of everything a Welsh government spends its money

on. So really substantial differences between the parties that

inevitably will provoke substantial debate in the weeks ahead. As you

mentioned, they will need to find a partner somewhere. Any ideas who

that is likely to be? Nothing definitive on that. Plaid are in the

strange position where they have ruled out a formal deal with the

Conservatives or an informal arrangement with the Conservatives

looks difficult. A pre-election pact with the Liberal Democrats fell

apart. We are left with Labour, the party that Leanne Wood was ripping

into in her speech. Behind the scenes, I am told there is no

I'm worried the road's appetite getting worse

it's going to get more problematic and disrepair and more difficult

In order to do the repair work on this stretch of road,

the authorities need to buy land from two owners,

and a spokesperson for the Welsh Government told us this

But what has angered many here is the staggering costs that

have built up while these negotiations have been ongoing.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that keeping the lights

The total cost to date for their hire is ?223,000.

It's building up to a lot of money that us as rate payers

Many can't understand why it's taking so long and costing so much -

the town council say they've been pressing for answers

We as a community want to know what's going on.

Lets sort it out and let's get it done.

We're losing holiday trade because people don't want to travel

on these two roads, so somebody's accountable

The Welsh Government say they're in the process of finalising

an agreement and are hopeful work will begin before the end

That's still a long way off with no guarantee yet of a green light.

After a huge win at Arsenal, Swansea City need to do it again

against relegation rivals Norwich on Saturday.

And we've had some snow across Mid and North Wales today -

join me later to see what we have in store for the weekend.

The creator of the Superted cartoon series has criticised

the involvement of what he calls Welsh government "bureaucrats"

Mike Young, who is now a Hollywood film producer,

says a lack of support has forced him to make his next

Our arts and media correspondent, Huw Thomas, has more.

An iconic character from the 1980s, Superted launched the career

of Mike Young, the Welsh producer who went on to make films

and cartoons in America for the past 30 years.

It will focus on the legendary Cardiff City player Robin Friday,

but it won't be made in Wales after he was refused

support from the Welsh government's film fund.

He still has close links with Wales, and launched his latest big-screen

animation at the Market Hall Cinema in Brynmawr this week.

But asked what he thought of the film and TV industry here,

his recent experience left him concerned.

I'm a commercial - very commercial - director, and I think that

if the industry's going to work in Wales, then they've got

I think they've got to gather around them people who really know

how to package films, and how to market and sell them,

The Welsh government said its support for the industry

had given Wales a global reputation for film and TV productions.

It said its Media Investment Budget was delivering tangible results,

and that it made commercial decisions based on advice

Four productions have already had access to the government's fund,

and will be released in the coming months.

Life can be a real bear, especially for Norm.

Norm Of The North is Mike Young's latest big-screen animation.

The tale of a polar bear whose tasked with saving his home

But it's Superted that has defined his career,

and it's a character that's returning to the small screen.

We're literally at the beginning of writing a new Superted series

and we hope to sell and produce it, and we're going to produce it

Will that be in Welsh, in English, in both?

Mike Young is still passionate about Wales and accepts his funding

rejection may have coloured his attitude toward the way the industry

is run, but it hasn't put him off regularly returning from LA

and bringing with him one of the most iconic characters

Cardiff Cyclist Owain Doull could win his second medal

of the World Track Championships this evening.

The 22 year old has already won silver as part

of Great Britains Team Pursuit, and has a chance for Bronze

in the Individual race later tonight.

But the biggest smile at the London Veledrome has belonged

to Becky James - who hopes her Bronze medal will secure her a place

with Plaid to enter into a formal coalition, including labour, and I

think in tone She's been out of world-class

competition for two years, It's been a really,

really tough road. The World Cups were really

tough on me this winter. All I rode was sprint

and I was knocked out first round, Just to be back and doing keirin,

which is the one event I truly love, I've just seen improvements

we in, week out. Managed to put it out

today, so happy days. After a long and emotional road,

back from injury and illness, their reaction at London's Lee

Valley Velo Park spoke volumes. Looking on proudly, boyfriend

George North was also present, knowing that crossing

third in the keirin, a gruelling sprint race should be

enough to secure Becky a place It hasn't been as much as a success

for Welsh riders Eleanor The women's team pursuit qualifying

round was a bitter disappointment. They do have a chance to fight

for bronze this evening, but after years of world domination

in the endurance race, They have just lost it,

right at the end. The men's team pursuit riders

were also downhearted - losing out to Australia in the final

wasn't good enough for Pretty gutted, to be honest,

I'm not going to lie. Coming second last year,

that was kind of like, that felt like a win,

whereas this year, it kind of feels like, kind of, yeah, second,

really, so really gutted. But there's more to come

with the most decorated member of the team extremely confident

about their Olympic chances. I'll put my house on it,

I'll say we are winning Rio now, Owain Doull, absolutely outstanding,

what a talent he is. -- The 22-year-old Welshman

is highly thought of and could shine Owain Doull will challenge

for bronze medal in the men's Let's turn to football and Swansea

City Coach Francesco Guidolin will stay in hospital over

the weekend as he recovers It means Alan Curtis will be

in charge when bottom three side Norwich visit the Liberty

Stadium tomorrow. The Swans are 6 points ahead

of the Canaries and Curtis says another three wins from

the remaining ten games will be enough to secure

Premier League survival. We need to get at

least 38, 39 points. If we get that 38, 39,

then obviously that is probably Even winning the game tomorrow,

it will give us another bit of breathing space, but certainly

there is still an awful lot Cardiff City's Peter Whittingham,

Sean Morrison and Craig Noone are all set to return from injuries

at Bristol City tomorrow but Fabio De Silva remains out

with a groin injury. Newport County welcome

Wycombe Wanderers in League 2 - The Exiles are eight points clear

of the relegation zone. And Wrexham's away clash

with Guiseley in the National League Wales forward Gareth Bale

could make his return for Real Madrid this weekend -

he's in their squad to face Celta Viga tomorrow after six weeks

out with a calf injury. But defender James Collins

is a doubt for Wales' International friendlies against Northern Ireland

and Ukraine at the end of the month Rugby, and the Scarlets face

the Pro12's bottom side Treviso at home tonight hoping

to consolidate their place They're currently seven points ahead

of Edinburgh in fifth -- Earlier - I spoke to former

Wales Captain Martyn Williams who's at Parc y Scarlets -

And he underlined the importance It certainly is, you know, that a

race for the top four spots, for the play-offs. It is getting really

tight and the Scarlets were disappointed to lose to Edinburgh

last week. These are the kind of games to win but also with a bonus

point because that could be vital at the end of the season. Jarvis has

joined Claremont, Schindler of two blues. Good news for both? Strange

move for Jarvis, you would think maybe that is the end of him wearing

a Welsh shirt, Claremont. As Steve, Rhys is going the other way, down to

the Scarlets, so steeds probably sees an opportunity to try to get

some first-team rugby with the Blues. It is positive for both

individuals. Let's move on to the six Nations. Warren announced his

team to face England on Tuesday. A big week ahead. It is! It has built

up nicely since the French and England beating Ireland. For all

intents and purposes, it is a championship decider. Hopefully, I

think we have got a Phillies fit squad to -- a fully fit squad to

choose from, I cannot see many changes from the squad that faced

France. The momentum is with England but I think they will go up there as

underdogs, but there is no doubt we could spring a surprise and

hopefully that Italian game at the end will just be a profession and a

tournament decider for us. Martyn Williams there.

And Scarlets Treviso is on ScrumV Live this evening

Should they expect any snow there, Benny?

More likely to see rain and snow but we did see some across parts of mid

and North Wales this morning. Here is the scene set in Taiwan offer

weather watchers. You have been taking lots of pictures for us this

morning. -- sent in from a weather watcher. Lovely blue skies in South

Wales but the weather has been deteriorating through the day for

most of us. This weekend, mostly dry. It will feel cold in the

north-easterly winds. Here's the radar showing the front gathering

across parts of the north-east this morning. Gradually it has been

pushing south and east through the day. In mixed of rain, sleet and

snow. Through tonight, we do have that rain band continuing its

journey south and eastwards, fragmenting a little bit. By

overnight, most of us can look forward to something a bit drier,

but with the strong winds, it should be frost-free. Temperatures ranging

between two and four Celsius. It will be a cold start to our Saturday

morning. Tomorrow, low pressure moving away to mainland Europe. We

do have high pressure building from the West. With that, a drier picture

compared with today. It is a chilly start to tomorrow morning. We are

dragging and cold water from the north but also some sunshine to

compensate, but it will not feel like it. You will need to wrap up

warm and also the risk of a few showers along coastal areas. The

bulk of the country, dry and certainly an improvement on today.

Temperatures 5-8dC but it will not feel like it in the wind. Tomorrow

night, we will see the odd isolated shower but the bulk of the country

will be dry and Dublin sold drier try away so it will be a frosty

night for a few others entered the early hours of Sunday morning.

Temperatures dipping down to minus one Celsius. That will double the

cold start to Sunday. On Sunday, high pressure still in charge.

Notice the gap between the isobars. Much later when. With that, an

improvement and the best day of the weekend. -- much lighter winds. The

unpleasant in the sunshine. Still the risk of a few showers along the

coast. The West, the best of the drier weather further inland. Sunny

spells with cloud increasing through the day. It will feel pleasant in

the sunshine. And then we go into Monday. More dry weather to come by

the ten wicket into Monday night, we will see more persistent rain

heading our way. That'll clear by the tour wicket into Tuesday and

there are early indications of something a bit milder as we head

into the middle of next week. The weekend, Saturday, the best of the

subject further inland, a few showers on the west. Sunday feeling

with cold as we have later when. -- feeling less cold as we have later

when. It's coming up to 7 o'clock,

a reminder of our top stories Surgeons in Poland say they think

they are on the brink of finding a cure for paralysis. They gave a man

who was paralysed from the chest down a cell transplant to repair his

spinal-cord and he can now ride adapted bicycle. They want to try

the technique on other patients. A national plan to make sure children

and adults with autism in Wales get consistent support, regardless of

where they live, is being set up. It follows concerns that services

across the country are patchy for the more than 31,000 people with

autism and Asperger's syndrome here. I'll have a quick update at 8.00

and a full round up after the BBC But from me, Benny, Iwan

and everyone on the programme -