Our Team

After spending 18 years working with children of all abilities in her Montessori schools, Vivian decided to dedicate more attention to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She founded Mindful and Modern ABA Therapies (MMAT) with these children and their families in mind. The Montessori philosophy–  structuring a teacher’s approach to the student’s style– is uniquely well-suited to serve students diagnosed with autism and other learning disorders. 

Vivian brings insight and compassion to MMAT, in no small part due to her own early educational challenges. Diagnosed with dyslexia in the third grade, Vivian spent countless hours after school working on her phonetics. Through hard work and a strong will, she improved her reading and writing skills, eventually becoming an honor student. Despite her rough start, she went on to earn an engineering degree from North Carolina A&T State University.

After landing her first job at Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Indiana, Vivian worked as a mechanical and industrial engineer. She went on to work at Hillenbrand Industries Inc., but left in 1997 to pursue an MBA degree at Indiana University in Bloomington. At IU, she earned a triple major in International Business, Finance, and New Venture and Business Development, and spent a year in China consulting as part of her internship.

During her graduate studies, she finally received quality intervention at the Dyslexia Institute of Indiana. Inspired by the experience, for her graduate thesis she wrote a business and marketing plan for Maria Montessori International Academy. She opened her first school in 2001 and began working with children of all abilities.   

Growing up with a learning disability, combined with her passion for education, eventually inspired Vivian to found Mindful and Modern ABA Therapies (MMAT). 

Sheila Rivera Octtaviani, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with a passion to help children communicate effectively so that they can experience success in all areas of their life: school, home, social situations.

She has immense experience with a wide range of disabilities, and most importantly has learned the importance of collaborating with the team members, including the caregivers and other therapists.

Sheila has a great deal of experience working with nonverbal children who benefit greatly from Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC). She is experienced in working with both low- and high-tech devices, and supported several children and their families in developing a core vocabulary and learning how to best implement AAC, based on recent research.

She is very sensitive to each child’s needs, always eager to work with the caregivers and other team members when establishing goals and developing treatment plans, and constantly striving to ensure therapy is effective, evidence based, and functional.

Sheila aims to provide a positive, joyful environment where she can gently motivate each child to reach his/her communication or feeding goals. If you peek into one of Sheila’s therapy sessions, you will see a great deal of visuals (pictures, gestures, sign language) to help with routines and/or communication, sensory or movement breaks as needed, and most likely hear some singing and hopefully, laughter.

Tanya Malik, MCP, MOT, OTR, L is Director of Outpatient Services, and an expert Occupational Therapist who helps young learners with autism become self-reliant based on ability vs disability principles. She steadfastly believes anyone can learn with the right modifications & adaptations, and especially with the right teacher & supports.

She’s a passionate therapist who practices from the heart. She initially received a post graduate degree in Information Technology, then followed her passion and acquired a post graduate specialization in Occupational Therapy (OT).

Tanya started off serving and understanding the Autism community in the pediatric population, but also excels in Dementia care and long-term behavioral intervention and support, studying under the leadership of Dr. Hose at the Florida Institute of Technology.

Described best in her own words, she says “I feel Occupational Therapy for me is the therapeutic use of self and positive change I can bring into the life of children through what they love to do!”

Harkon Ajala is a veteran entrepreneur and business consultant who sees his work with MMAT as a personal mission and part of his life’s purpose to create a positive impact on the world one family and child at a time.

As a parent of a child with autism, he can relate and empathize with the families we serve from a place of personal experience. His belief in the extraordinary ways he’s seen our unique Montessori based model help children learn, grow, and thrive is what compelled him to work with us.

As Director of Enrollment, his mission is to be a trusted liaison for parents and families to first, help them honestly determine if our centers are the best fit for their child, and then, to guide them step-by-step throughout the process of enrolling them from first contact to their first day of attendance.

He says his time with us has been the most fulfilling of his adult life and he’s loving every minute of it!