Spotlight on the Older Adults Committee: A Voice of Wisdom, Connection, and Confidence

Meet a longtime member of the NSA who embodies the heart of what it means to be unapologetically yourself.

Vicki Schutter been part of the NSA since 1985, when we were still known as the National Stuttering Project (NSP). Their journey began when a persistent fellow stutterer, Brian Koch, encouraged them to attend a meeting in Paula Campbell’s apartment. That first step led to a lifetime of connection, support, and transformation.

“I had never been in a room with so many stutterers in my life,” she said. “It was life-changing.”

Now a proud member of the Older Adults Committee, she helps represent the fastest-growing group in our organization: adults over 50. The committee offers a unique perspective on NSA initiatives, providing insight into workshops, mentoring, and planning events with a thoughtful eye toward later stages in life. But more than anything, this committee fosters a sense of belonging. It’s a place where mature members can reflect, connect, and continue to grow within our ever-expanding stuttering family.

She says that one of their proudest accomplishments is simple yet powerful:

“I always order exactly what I want in a restaurant. I never order something I think will be easier to say.”

We celebrate that kind of confidence and self-acceptance at the NSA. Through their years of involvement, she’s learned to live with their stutter, not in spite of it, but with it—embracing who she is rather than striving for who she thinks she’s “supposed” to be.

When she’s not advocating for the stuttering community, she’s enjoying their favorite things:

Pecan Turtle Fudge ice cream

Relaxing at the beach

Singing California Dreamin’ at karaoke

Caring for Ginger, their very spoiled orange-and-white cat

Rewatching episodes of Star Trek

Dreaming of visiting the lake region of northern Italy

To anyone new to the NSA, their advice is clear:
“Go to a conference! It will change your life forever, and you will meet people there who will be your friends for the rest of your lives.”

We’re honored to have this member in our community and even more thrilled to see their continued leadership on the Older Adults Committee.