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Abstract: The main goal of this article is to discuss a new concept, the "Compensation Age Theory (CAT)", for individuals with intellectual disability (ID). The CAT is a holistic framework comprised of four dimensions: (a) the state of the art of the CAT; (b) the theoretical resources which are at the core of the CAT; (c) a series of empirical studies performed by the author and other scholars which support the assumptions of the CAT; (d) cognitive educational intervention programs for individuals at all levels of ID throughout the lifespan, which are anchored in this theory. The CAT framework supports the view that all human beings, even people with ID, are capable of change. Despite the limitations imposed by age or severity of disability, the concept "self-actualization" can be expanded to include people with ID who, under appropriate environmental conditions and with continuous systematic intervention, can be brought to a level of functioning previously absent from their behavioral repertoire.
The main goal of the present article is to discuss a new concept, the "Compensation Age Theory (CAT)" for individuals with intellectual disability (ID). The CAT is a holistic framework comprised of four dimensions: (a) the state of the art of the CAT; (b) the theoretical resources which are at the core of the CAT; (c) a series of empirical studies performed by the author and other scholars which support the assumptions of the CAT; (d) cognitive educational intervention programs for individuals at all levels of ID throughout the lifespan, which are anchored in this theory.
CAT-State of the Art
When considering cognitive education or cognitive intervention programs for individuals with ID, it is assumed that the weight of the mental age (MA) or the basic cognitive level is the crucial factor for determining their cognitive ability. The CAT postulates that the weight of the chronological age (CA) is similar to that of the MA, and that CA plays an important role in determining the cognitive ability of individuals with ID beyond their MA. The CAT claims that in later years, there is compensation for the developmental delays experienced by individuals with ID in their early years. Furthermore, the cognitive ability of adults with ID can be modified at a critical period which was considered...