Dr. Peter Beddow is a teacher at heart. Raised in Vermont from a young age, he spent his early years skiing and reading, profoundly shaped by teachers who inspired him across all stages of life—from his earliest classrooms to his high school English and AP Biology teachers, and into college. Their infuence sparked a lifelong desire to teach, and a deep belief in the lasting impact of great educators. He studied English Literature at Middlebury College with a concentration in Creative Writing—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama—and minored in Teacher Education. His favorite chapter in all of English literature is Chapter X of The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne.

Peter began working with children as a summer camp counselor for four years, then taught middle school English and Drama in California for two years before moving into special education. He spent five formative years teaching in a self-contained classroom at Five Acres, a residential treatment facility in Altadena, California, serving children in foster care. He earned his PhD in Special Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, with dissertation research in educational psychology, learning, and measurement under the mentorship of Stephen N. Elliott, PhD. Peter’s academic work focused on access, fairness, and universal design in assessment, and his peer-reviewed research has appeared in journals such as Exceptional Children, Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, and The Journal of Special Education Leadership.

As a board certi!ed behavior analyst (BCBA-D), Peter has worked in homes, schools, and clinics since 2010. In 2014, he founded Accessible Behavior, LLC—renamed Accessible Hope in 2018. His Nashville-based clinic, located inside a local church, primarily serves families navigating autism, trauma, and behavioral needs. He also consults with school teams throughout Tennessee.

Peter now lives in a small town outside Nashville, in a house along the river, with his wife Christie, their two sons Judah and Micah, and their dog.