About Us
About CAE
Our Story
Where it all began
A nod to our roots: Oak & Hive Consulting
What started as an idea to support families through post-autism-diagnosis life became much more. Oak & Hive Consulting was born to bridge the gap between diagnosis and support — helping families navigate autism care with confidence through personalized guidance, trusted provider connections, and inclusive community partnerships. It was the seed that grew into CAE.
"Why is there no one to talk to?"
That question — asked after an autism diagnosis, in the middle of a school crisis, and in the quiet moments between — is exactly why CAE exists. We couldn't find the resource we needed. So we built it.
The Collective Autism Experience didn't begin with a business plan or a catchy name. It began in two different places, with two different mothers, living parallel lives without even knowing it.
Cheryl's Path
She built community when none existed.
It started in a parking lot outside her daughter Amelia's ABA center — a quiet row of cars, parents sitting alone with the weight of autism, separated from each other by a single closed door. After Amelia's diagnosis, Cheryl searched for a parent group and found nothing. So she built one. A simple coffee meet-up became sensory-friendly playdates, moms' nights out, and a community of families showing up for each other. She didn't set out to build a movement. But she created one anyway.
Nikki's Path
She became the guide she never had.
When Nikki's son was diagnosed with autism in 2022, she thought she was stepping back from her career. Instead, that season drew her deeper into the work she was meant to do. As she built a neuro-affirming team for her son, friends, neighbors, and other parents began reaching out — overwhelmed, unsure where to begin. Her background in psychology, leadership, and coaching blended with her lived experience. Oak & Hive grew from this work — not as a community hub, but as a place where parents could find direction and move forward.
Today, Nikki and Cheryl serve as co-founders — Nikki as CEO and Cheryl as COO — building the supportive, informed, connected ecosystem they both needed when their own journeys began.
CAE is the place where families find guidance, where providers collaborate instead of compete, and where the autism community finally has a central home.
This wasn't an accident. It wasn't a pivot. It was the moment two parallel paths finally came together — and became something bigger than either of them could have built alone.
The People Behind CAE
Meet the Team
Nikki Sammet
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CEO & Co-Founder
Nikki Sammet, PhD, M.A.
Nikki is a PhD-level clinical psychologist, experienced coach, and autism parent. She brings over a decade of experience in coaching, leadership development, and supporting families navigating complex systems. Her professional background in recruiting, psychology, and organizational culture — combined with her lived experience as a parent to an autistic child — is the foundation of CAE's family navigation model. She built the resource she once desperately searched for, and now makes sure other families don't have to search alone.
Cheryl Zjajo
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COO & Co-Founder
Cheryl Zjajo, CCC-SLP
Cheryl is a certified speech-language pathologist and the community-building heart of CAE. After her daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and level 2 autism, Cheryl navigated the system with almost no support — even as a healthcare professional. That experience lit a fire. She started CAE because families and providers deserve better than what exists today. Cheryl brings clinical expertise, deep empathy, and a gift for creating spaces where people feel seen and supported.
Ready to stop figuring this out alone?
Whether you're a family navigating a new diagnosis or a provider looking to grow — CAE was built for you.
Talk to us
