이 연구는 현직 유아교사와 예비유아교사를 대상으로 장애인에 대한 인식을 알아보고자 하였다. 본 연구 대상은 전라북도에 근무하는 병설유치원교사 143명과 유아교육과 졸업반 학생 144명이었으며 연구에 사용된 설문지는 5개 영역의 33문항으로 구성되었다. 본 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 장애인의 능력인식에서는 전반적으로 두 집단 모두 긍정적으로 인식하고 있으나 예비유아교사가 유아교사보다 더 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었다. 둘째, 장애인 접촉시의 태도에 대한 인식에서는 예비유아교사와 유아교사 모두가 긍정적으로 인식하고 있으나 상대적으로 예비유아교사가 유아교사보다 더 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었다. 셋째, 장애인 교육관에 대한 유아교사와 예비유아교사간의 인식에서는 두 집단 모두가 높은 인식은 하고 있지 않으나 분리교육보다는 통합교육 효과에 대해 상대적으로 높게 인식하고 있었다. 넷째, 장애인의 심리성격에 대한 인식은 유아교사와 예비유아교사 모두 높은 인식은 하고 있지 않으나 예비유아교사가 유아교사보다 더 긍정적으로 인식하고 있었다. 다섯째, 장애인의 이성결혼관에 대한 인식에서는 두 집단 모두 장애인은 장애인끼리 결혼해야 한다는 의견이 높았다.

The purpose of this study was to examine how early childhood education(ECE) teachers and prospective ECE teachers perceived on the people with disabilities with regard to their competency, direct contact with them, education for them, their personality, and dating and marriage with them. The subjects in this study were 143 ECE teachers and 144 prospective ECE teachers. A survey was conducted with questionnaires that included 33 items in five areas. The data were analyzed with t-test. The findings of the study were as follows: First, concerning the competency of people with disabilities, both groups viewed it favorably in general, but the prospective ECE teachers perceived it more positively than ECE teachers. Second, as to attitude of direct contact with people with disabilities, both groups had a positive attitude in general, but the prospective ECE teachers had a more positive attitude than ECE teachers. Third, regarding education for people with disabilities, both groups were not found to have positive view on that matter. However, they considered the inclusive education of children with disabilities was more effective than segregated education. Fourth, as for the personality of people with disabilities, both groups didn't looked at them positively, but the prospective ECE teachers had a more favorable opinion than the ECE teachers. Fifth, concerning the dating and marriage of people with disabilities, both groups felt that it's advisable for them to marry within their community. The findings of the study suggested that the ECE teachers and prospective ECE teachers didn't take a good view of people with disabilities as a whole. As ECE teachers had a decisive impact on young children, they should have more opportunities to take training courses in special education to have a better understanding of children with disabilities and inclusive education and to correct their bias against people with disabilities.