Become a Member

Author: Nisia Patalan

Picture of Nisia Patalan

Nisia Patalan

Nisia Patalan is an educator living in the southwest corner of Colorado. She is in her second year on the SENG board and is thrilled to be able to give back to the gifted community through board service. She is a Gifted Education Regional Consultant for SW CO, the Director of Gifted Education for the San Juan BOCES, and owns Spark Education, a business focusing on professional development related to “all things gifted”. This article was based on a "Sensory Sensitivity" workshop co-presented with Willow Tonozzi for San Juan BOCES in January of 2025.
Over-excitabilities
Nisia Patalan

Understanding and Supporting Sensory Sensitivities in Gifted Individuals

This article explains sensory sensitivities in gifted individuals, describing eight senses, diverse sensory profiles (seekers, avoiders, low registration, sensitivity), links to overexcitability theory, and practical supports: environmental adjustments, regulation strategies (activators/settlers), tailored interventions, and physical tools to manage sensory overload.

Read More »
Nisia Patalan June 17, 2025
SENG Director's Corner
Nisia Patalan

Partnership in All Things

An introduction to the SENG Board’s 2025 focus on strengthening partnerships, likening board collaboration to backcountry skiing. It emphasizes trust, cooperation, mutual respect, shared responsibility, and leveraging complementary strengths to navigate challenges, develop responsive programming, and support the gifted community together for a safer, more fulfilling year.

Read More »
Nisia Patalan January 9, 2025
SENG Director's Corner
Nisia Patalan

Director’s Corner: The Nature of Change

Change is inevitable and can be evolutionary, revolutionary, positive, or negative. For gifted individuals, heightened sensitivity can trigger creativity or anxiety. Embracing flexibility, focusing on controllable aspects, and building supportive connections—through groups and resources—helps manage uncertainty and foster resilience.

Read More »
Nisia Patalan October 18, 2024