National Leadership Program, Winter 2020 – Spring 2021
Tyler Hoog
Tyler Hoog was an Entertainment Media Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Winter 2020 – Spring 2021. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Hoog started telling stories at a very young age, though most just called him talkative back then. At 17, a spinal cord injury left Hoog paralyzed from the neck down. Stuck in a hospital room with nothing to do, he learned the art of storytelling. As film and television became a source of comfort for him and his ever-changing world, he grew fascinated with the art.
After a three month stay in a spinal cord injury rehab hospital in Atlanta, Hoog returned home to Colorado. He graduated high school and attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Communications with a Minor in Writing for the Screen and Stage. Following his time at UNC, Hoog continued his studies at the University of Southern California where he earned a Masters Degree in Screenwriting from the John Wells Division of Writing for Film and Television.
During his time at USC, Hoog co-wrote Side Effects, an original miniseries shot at USC that won the CAUCUS FOUNDATION NEW MEDIA/TELEVISION AWARD in 2019. Along with working on original productions, Tyler served as a spokesperson for Swim with Mike, a scholarship foundation which provides scholarships to disabled athletes.
Hoog’s perspective is shaped by his nine years in a wheelchair. A comedian by nature, he turned to humor to chart his path from varsity athlete to rolling commentator (pun intended) on the humorous absurdities of life; like, say, a 6’6” guy in 4’ wheelchair. Hoog’s experiences as a quadriplegic gives him unique insight into the feelings of isolation and the desire for more meaningful relationships, which he explores in his writing with a healthy dose of brash, irreverent humor. If tragedy + time = comedy, he has a great joke for you.
