Rebecca Stone

Rebecca Stone's elementary school teachers may have a hard time believing she is now the reigning Miss Teen US Continental.

Introverted and extremely frustrated by school, Rebecca often "played sick" during her early school years. When she did attend classes, she wouldn't talk or raise her hand. Following in the shadow of her older "genius" brother, she still recalls the shame when one of her teachers told her she'd do better in a "special" school.

The situation was painfully familiar to Rebecca's uncle - and tests done at his urging determined that, like him, Rebecca has severe dyslexia. Soon, her parents became "very well known" at her schools, ensuring that she was provided with accommodations that included RFB&D's recorded textbooks.

The change was dramatic. By middle school, Rebecca was a bubbly, self-confident teenager entering talent and dance competitions.

By the time she graduated high school in 2002, she owned and operated her own dance studio, was a tutor for special needs children and, as Miss Teen Florida US Continental, had earned a college scholarship.

Although Rebecca feared exposing her dyslexia during her early years of competitions, she credits a recent decision to make RFB&D and learning disabilities her national platform with helping her earn the title of Miss Teen US Continental. Now, for the next year, Rebecca will travel the country, wearing her crown and speaking about learning disabilities and RFB&D's services. Future plans include completing her bachelor's degree with a major in elementary education and a minor in business, and then opening her own combination dance studio/child care center.

Rebecca, who is also the owner and operator of Wizbang Cloggers (the only professional clogging dance team in Southern Florida), says her main message to others, especially teenagers, is, "If you have a dream, don't let anything stand in your way."