Magnesium Sulfate: A chemical used for various purposes. Taken orally, it is a laxative. When given intravenously to pregnant women in labor, it may abolish or diminish uterine contractions.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An imaging technique which uses radio waves, magnetic field, and computer analysis to create a picture of body tissues and structures.

Mainstreaming: The practice of involving children with disabilities in regular school and preschool environments. See also Inclusion.

Major Life Activity: Basic activities that the average person in the general population can perform with little or no difficulty,
including caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

Malnutrition: Nutritional intake that is insufficient to promote or maintain growth and development.

Malocclusion: Faulty bites such as overbites or underrates.

Mandible: Lower jaw bone.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation: A not-for-profit organization supporting research to prevent and treat birth defects.

Maxilla: Upper jaw bone.

Mediation: As related to special education services, a process for resolving disputes about a child's special education. During mediation, a trained, impartial person tries to help the participants reach a compromise through discussion of the issues.

Microcephaly: An abnormally small head.

Middle ear: The air-filled cavity between the outer and inner ears that contains three tiny bones-the malleus, incus and stapes.

Midline: an imaginary reference line down the center of the body separating left from right.

Mild Oxygen Loss: Usually a time limited, small decrease in the amount of oxygen available.

Mobility Opportunities Via Education (M.O.V.E.): A program designed to teach children with disabilities functional motor skills through the use of selective equipment-i.e. the Gait Trainer, the Mobile Stander and the Universal Chair. MOVE
International is an activity-based curriculum designed to teach students basic, functional motor skills needed for adult
life within the home and community. The program is designed to build on natural body mechanics, aiming for increasing
independence in sitting, standing and walking.

Monoplegia: Diminished muscle control in one limb.

Motor: Relating to the ability to move a part of or the entire body.

Motor cortex: The area of the brain containing the neurons that control voluntary movement (as opposed to reflexes).

Motor delay: Slower than normal development of movement skills.

Motor patterns: The ways in which the body and limbs work to make sequenced movement.

Motor planning: The ability to think through and carry out a physical task.

Multidisciplinary Team: See Interdisciplinary team.

Multihandicapped: Having more than one disability.

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation: A not-for-profit organization supporting services, advocacy, research and public information in the area of multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system.

Muscle facilitation: To encourage a muscle to work harder through techniques such as proper positioning, special equipment, sensory input, etc.

Muscle tone: The amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. The amount of contraction of a muscle when it is at rest.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): A not-for-profit organization supporting services, advocacy, research and public information in the area of neuromuscular dystrophy, a group of genetic disorders affecting muscles.

Myofascial release therapy: A controversial therapy in which connective tissues around joints and overlying muscles are stretched and manipulated to enhance movement.

Myopia: Nearsightedness; a condition in which close objects can be seen clearly but distant objects are blurry.