header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
February 7
1919 - First publication of weekly Newhall Signal newspaper, $2 a year [story]
Signal Century


| Tuesday, Jan 21, 2020
Hansen
Kaye Hansen shares stories about how she helped to create some of the first special education programs in the Santa Clarita Valley. January 14, 2020. Bobby Block / The Signal.

 

Back in the 1960s, there weren’t any special education programs in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Instead, special needs children were considered “uneducable” and were only permitted to attend kindergarten.

So, when Kaye and Arlen Hansen’s son Kelly started kindergarten at Santa Clarita Elementary in the fall of 1962, it didn’t take them long to decide that something must be done.

“All the other kids got to go and do all these things and he just always wondered how come he couldn’t do the same,” Kaye Hansen said. “After that, he wasn’t educable enough to take into the school system, so we had him home. He was 6 years old, and we didn’t know what to do with him.”

Seeing the need for her son and thinking there must be others who could benefit, Hansen called a special education program in Los Angeles, inquiring if it could be brought to the SCV.

She was told if she could find 10 “uneducable” children and a place to hold a class, they would provide a teacher. Dr. Bowen, the special education representative she met with, then asked to meet Kelly, who sealed the deal.

“Here he was riding a tricycle, wet, runny nose, I mean, he just put on a really good show from the very beginning,” Hansen added, chuckling.

With the help of Myron Sproul, longtime SCV educator and vice principal at Hart High School at the time, Hansen was able to find a total of seven special needs children. Though just shy of the 10 kids needed, Hansen pressed on.

Soon, she was put in contact with the Rev. Charles Dennis at the Santa Clarita United Methodist Church, where a recent addition of classrooms and restrooms to their church made for the perfect home for the program.

“They sent this wonderful lady (to head the program) that was just a perfect fit for these children,” Hansen added. “In fact, when Kelly became of age to go to the junior high, they told me that he could really go to an inclusion program, which they called something else in those days, but I didn’t want him to go to the junior high … Kelly was happy.”

The special education program remained at the church until 1968, when it was moved to a side building at Emblem Elementary, with the help of Arlen Hansen, who was also a building contractor.

“They built a whole little section right in front for the school,” Hansen said.

Kelly continued through the program until he was 21, when he was, again, left with nowhere to go.

The Hansens again went to work to create another special education program, this one for adults.

In December 1969, Pleasantview Industries, a nonprofit organization serving adults with disabilities, opened a workshop at the old Saugus Union School District offices.

Here, adults with special needs could not only develop work skills, but also find supported employment.

“We started out as primarily a facility-based program with a work activity center, which we still do have, and over the years have been able to place people into jobs in the community,” said Gerry Howard, executive director at Pleasantview. “We currently have 66 people working in jobs in the community, which has surpassed the number we have in the facility.”

Howard attributes that to the implementation of the transportation system in the SCV, which made the industrial centers more accessible.

Since then, Pleasantview has moved into an old Saugus Elementary School building that was cut into three sections and transported to the Rosedell Elementary School property.

“Arlen was president of the board when I was hired in 1977,” Howard said. “I was hired as executive director right out of college and I was first and only up until this point.”

“The Hansens were very instrumental in getting the program started, and I was appreciative of the board and Arlen’s support, as we were all kind of finding our way,” he added.

Today, Emblem Elementary has a facility dedicated to special education and all five school districts work together to provide special education.

The Hansen family has continued to have a hand in the community, such as Kelly’s sister Karla Posner, who not only works with the special education program at Mountain View Elementary School, but also works with Major Impact Theater, a nonprofit theater troupe for adults with disabilities.

“So, Kelly’s always in my heart,” she added, smiling.

Looking back, Hansen never expected her and her husband’s efforts to lead to this.

“We didn’t know what we were doing when we started the school, we just went out on a limb and worked together,” she said. “We met the most wonderful people. People who needed us and we needed them, and the (special needs) community was so accepted… and the school district was just a great help in every way.”

Hansen Family

A family portrait of the Hansen Children, including Kelly, whose special needs inspired his mother to help build some of the first special education programs in the Santa Clarita Valley. January 14, 2020. Bobby Block / The Signal.


Karla Posner and Kaye Hansen

Kaye Hansen, right, sits next to her daughter Karla Posner, left, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and now also works with special needs children. January 14, 2020. Bobby Block / The Signal.


Kaye Hansen

Kaye Hansen, right, sits next to her daughter Karla Posner, left, who followed in her mother’s footsteps and now also works with special needs children. January 14, 2020. Bobby Block / The Signal.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


LOCAL SCHOOL LINKS
Related Content
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
Tuesday, Feb 4, 2025
Valencia High School’s Pride of the Vikings Color Guard will host the Winter Guard Association of Southern California Classification and Debut Show, featuring 39 high school color guard teams from across Southern California.
Friday, Jan 31, 2025
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan 31, 2025
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5, beginning with a closed session at 6:15 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan 31, 2025
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a public statement and “Dear Colleague” letter to all California local educational agencies on Friday, Jan. 31, reaffirming Title IX protections for students.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2025
The Castaic Union School District has announced the Jene Fielder Trust Scholarship Program is now accepting applications.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1919 - First publication of weekly Newhall Signal newspaper, $2 a year [story]
Signal Century
Autonomous vehicles under testing permits have collectively covered over 4 million miles on California’s public roads from Dec. 1, 2023, to Nov. 30, 2024, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has announced.
Over 4M Test Miles Logged in State by Autonomous Vehicles
Federal, state and local agencies will come together to host an informative webinar, "Understanding Air Quality After the L.A. Fires" on air quality impacts in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires.
Feb. 10: Understanding Air Quality After the L.A. Fires
The Santa Clarita College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center will host singer and musician, John Waite, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Feb. 21: Santa Clarita PAC Presents Singer John Waite
Maginns Pub is hosting a Valentine's Day five-course farm-to-table Irish Pub style dinner Friday, Feb. 14, at 24480 Main St., #140, Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Feb. 14: Maginns Pub Valentine’s Day Farm-to-Table Dinner
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley invites cancer survivors and caregivers to the 2025 Survivor and Caregiver Celebration Dinner, 5 p.m, Saturday, March 1 at at the Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA, 91351.
March 1: ACS Relay For Life Survivor Celebration Dinner
Santa Clarita Public Libraries are looking for volunteers for its Tween Spring Clean-Up beginning 8:45 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at Valencia Library, with other volunteer opportunities Sundays, March 2 and 9.
Feb. 16: Libraries Looking for Volunteers for Tween Spring Clean-Up
The California Institute of the Arts Patty Disney Center for Life and Work will be hosting a Valentines pop-up market noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Feb. 13: CalArts Valentines Artisan Market
Join Los Angeles County parks as they celebrates Black History Month. From Feb. 13–28, the parks invite you to honor the achievements, contributions and resilience of black Americans through an exciting lineup of workshops, art exhibits, music, storytelling and community events.
Feb. 13-28: Celebrate Black History Month at L.A. County Parks
As a longtime Santa Clarita resident, I believe one of our community’s most important responsibilities is the preservation of our rich history and beautiful open spaces.
Laurene Weste | Stepping Back into History at William S. Hart Park
Quincy Phillips had a career-high 37 points to lead The Master's University men's basketball team to a 95-69 win over the Park-Gilbert Buccaneers Wednesday night, Feb. 5 in The MacArthur Center.
Phillips Leads TMU over Buccaneers
The Master's University baseball team continued its impressive start to the season with a 9-5 win over Cedarville University at Lou Herwaldt Stadium in Santa Clarita Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5.
Mustangs Keep Yellow Jackets at Bay
Four players scored in double figures as The Master's University women's basketball team avenged an earlier conference loss to the Park-Gilbert Buccaneers with a 99-89 win Wednesday night, Feb. 5 in The MacArthur Center.
TMU Comes from Behind for Conference Win
1988 - Saugus Speedway owners demolish historic Bonelli Ranch House [story]
Bonelli House
Steven Leigh Morris, founding editor of "Stage Raw," curated his list of the 10 best Los Angeles theater productions of 2024. Among them were three shows that featured the creative talents of California Institue of the Arts alumni and faculty.
CalArtians in ‘Stage Raw’s’ Top 10 L.A. Theater Productions of 2024
Applications for the 2025 Virginia Wrage Memorial Scholarship are now available from the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley.
Zonta of SCV Wrage Scholarship Applications Available
Hockey fans, get ready! The Cube, Ice and Entertainment Center, Powered by FivePoint Valencia, is excited to welcome back the 2025 West Coast Hockey Conference Playoffs.
Feb. 9: The Cube Hosts 2025 West Coast Hockey Conference Playoffs
Interested members of the public are invited to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s Water Resources and Watershed Committee meeting on Feb. 12, 2025.
Feb. 12: SCV Water Agency Water Resources,Watershed Meeting
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business has granted California State University Northridge’s David Nazarian College of Business and Economics supplementary accreditation for its accounting program.
CSUN’s Nazarian College Receives Dual Accreditation
The Department of Animal Care and Control has announced that the Castaic Animal Care Center has reopened its doors to the community after a temporary closure due to the recent Hughes Fire on Jan. 22.
Castaic Animal Care Center Reopens Following Temporary Closure Due to the Hughes Fire
California State University, Northridge is celebrating Black History Month with a variety of events that highlight Black achievements and provide advice on how to navigate the workforce. 
CSUN Celebrates Black Success During Black History Month
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide investigators are responding to a death investigation.
LASD Homicide Bureau Responding to a Death Investigation, 21000 Nandina Lane, Newhall
Members of California State University Northridge’s Jazz “A” Band are getting a rare opportunity next month to perform alongside acclaimed artist and jazz pianist Jason Moran as they explore the music of jazz great Duke Ellington.
Feb. 13: CSUN Jazz “A” Band to Perform with Jason Moran
1921 - After leasing since 1918, William S. Hart purchases the Horseshoe Ranch in Newhall from Babcock Smith [story]
Hart ranch
SCVNews.com