Staff profile

Stephen is the Academic Director for the Master of Social Work programme. He joined Durham University in 2021 and has researched in the field of Disability Studies, Criminology, and Adult Social Work since 2001. In 2006 he completed a PhD in Sociology (Disability Studies) at Newcastle University. Before joining Durham University, Stephen was a Professor in Social Science and was Head of the Centre of Applied Social Sciences (CASS) at the University of Sunderland. Stephen’s research crosses disciplinary boundaries and he applies theoretical perspectives that emerge from within Disability Studies to that of Criminology and Adult Social Work. His recent research explores experiences of day-to-day violence experienced by disabled populations. He has published in the areas of 'disability hate crime', 'disability mate crime and cuckooing', and 'disability community victimisation (i.e. hate relationships)'. Alongside Stephen’s research in the field of victimisation, he conducts research in the field of criminality with neurodivergent ex-offenders that have desisted. Stephen primarily explores the intersections between disability and social deprivation. Examples of some of the projects he has led on are, ‘disability, loneliness and isolation’, ‘mental health and confinement’, ‘digital inclusion and exclusion’, ‘disability hate crime’, ‘disability, cuckooing and county lines’, ‘neurodiversity and homelessness’, ‘dyslexia and policing’, ‘disabled people’s experiences in police custody’, and ‘neurodiversity and pathways into offending’. Stephen has also published in the field of Disability Studies and Social Work Theory. He is the co-author of the textbook ‘Social Work Theory and Practice’. In practice, Stephen worked in the field of dementia care in hospitals/residential settings.

Research Themes

Criminal Justice, Social Harms and Inequalities

Communities and Social Justice

• Disability and Victimisation
• Disability and Criminality
• Disability and Social Harm
• Disability and Adult Safeguarding
• Disability Studies and Social Work Theory
• Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Studies

• 2022: Hate Crime Network Journal Prize: British Society of Criminology: ‘I may be left with no choice but to end my torment’: disability and intersectionalities of hate crime’
• 2021: Associate Editor (2021-present): Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research (SJDR):
• 2010: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA):
• 2010: Member of British Society of Criminology (BSC):

Authored book

• Deacon, L., & Macdonald, S. (2017). Social Work Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications
• Macdonald, S. (2010). Dyslexia and Crime: A Social Model Approach. VDM Ltd
• Macdonald, S. (2009). Towards a Sociology of Dyslexia: Exploring Links Between Dyslexia, Disability and Social Class. VDM Ltd

Chapter in book

• Macdonald, S. J., & Peacock, D. (2024). Dis/ableist Criminology: applying disability theory within a criminological context. In K. J. Stockdale, & M. Addison (Eds.), Marginalised Voices in Criminology. (1). London: Routledge
• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., & Macdonald, S. J. (2022). Becoming visible, becoming vulnerable? Bodies, material spaces, and affective economies of hate. In E. Hall, J. Clayton, & C. Donovan (Eds.), Landscapes of Hate: Spaces of abjection, discrimination and exclusion. Bristol University Press
• Macdonald, S., & Deacon, L. (2019). Disability Theory and Social Work Practice. In M. Payne, & M. Hall (Eds.), THE ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK OF SOCIAL WORK THEORY. Routledge
• Macdonald, S. (2017). Humanistic Psychology, Free will and Social Work Practice. In L. Deacon, & S. Macdonald (Eds.), SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE. SAGE Publications
• Macdonald, S. (2017). Cognitive Psychology and Social Work Practice. In L. Deacon, & S. Macdonald (Eds.), SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE. SAGE Publications
• Macdonald, S. (2017). Behaviourism and the Science of Control. In L. Deacon, & S. Macdonald (Eds.), SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE. SAGE Publications
• Macdonald, S. (2017). Five Models of Disability. In S. Macdonald, & L. Deacon (Eds.), SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE. SAGE Publications
• Deacon, L., & Macdonald, S. (2017). Psychotherapy, Social Work and the Conflicted Self. In SOCIAL WORK THEORY AND PRACTICE. SAGE Publications
• Macdonald, S. (2016). Disability and the Digital Divide. In A. Roulstone, A. Sheldon, & J. Harris (Eds.), DISABILITY AND TECHNOLOGY. Routledge
• Macdonald, S. (2015). 'The invisibles': Conceptualising the intersectional relationships between dyslexia, social exclusion and homelessness. In T. Shakespeare (Ed.), DISABILITY RESEARCH TODAY: INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES (112-132). Routledge
• Clayton, J., Macdonald, S. J., Smith, P., & Wilcock, A. (2015). The Impact of Digital Inclusion Initiatives in a Civic Context. In Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, Third Edition. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch676
• Macdonald, S. (2014). York retreat. In P. Taylor, K. Corteen, & S. Morley (Eds.), A COMPANION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH AND RISK. Bristol:. Policy Press
• Clayton, J., & Macdonald, S. (2013). The Limits OF Technology: Social class, occupation and digital inclusion in the city of Sunderland, England. In Information, Communication & Society (945-966). Taylor & Francis Online. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118x.2012.748817
• Macdonald, S. (2013). The right to be labelled: From risk to rights for pupils with dyslexia in 'special needs' education. In J. Kearney, & C. Donovan (Eds.), CONSTRUCTING RISKY IDENTITIES: CONSEQUENCES FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE (55-72). Palgrave

Journal Article

• Macdonald, S. J., & Wilde, A. (2024). Exploring the effectiveness of media in communicating public health messages to people with learning disabilities during the pandemic. Disability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2024.2333017
• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., & Macdonald, S. J. (2023). Domestic colonisation: The centrality of the home in experiences of home‐takeovers and hate relationships. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12660
• Donovan, C., Macdonald, S., & Clayton, J. (2023). Re-Conceptualising Repeat Reports of Hate Crime/Incidents as Hate Relationships Based on Coercive Control and Space for Action. Sociological Research Online, 28(2), 502–517. https://doi.org/10.1177/13607804211065052
• Peacock, D., Macdonald, S., Podd, W., & Cosgrove, F. (2023). 'We capture their comments before we leave the station': Service user involvement in the delivery of Appropriate Adult Schemes. Social work & social sciences review, 24(1), 28-49
• Macdonald, S. J., Donovan, C., Clayton, J., & Husband, M. (2022). Becoming cuckooed: conceptualising the relationship between disability, home takeovers and criminal exploitation. Disability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2022.2071680
• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., & Macdonald, S. (2022). Living with hate relationships: familiar encounters, enduring racisms and geographies of entrapment. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 40(1), 60-79
• Lid, I., Katsui, H., McLaughlin, J., Macdonald, S., Ljuslinder, K., & Tarvainen, M. (2021). Interdisciplinary disability research in the time of a pandemic. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 23(1), 207-208. https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.845
• Macdonald, S., Peacock, D., Cosgrove, F., & Podd, W. (2021). ‘The silence’: examining the missing voices of disabled people in police custody. Disability and Society, 36(1), 19-37. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1712190
• Macdonald, S., Donovan, C., & Clayton, J. (2021). ‘I may be left with no choice but to end my torment’: disability and intersectionalities of hate crime. Disability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1928480
• Grünke, M., Hord, C., & Macdonald, S. J. (2021). A Rationale for the Use of Case Reports in Special Education: The Significance of Detailed Descriptions of Assessment and Intervention Scenarios for Bridging the Research-to-Practice Gap. Insights on learning disabilities, 18(1), 91-101
• Macdonald, S. J., & Cosgrove, F. (2020). Removing disabling barriers in policing: Dyslexia and literacy difficulties in the police service. Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 93(4), https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258x19862008
• Deacon, L., Macdonald, S., & Donaghue, J. (2020). “What’s wrong with you, are you stupid?” Listening to the biographical narratives of adults with dyslexia in an age of ‘inclusive’ and ‘anti-discriminatory’ practice. Disability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1815522
• Macdonald, S. (2020). Therapeutic institutions of violence: conceptualising the biographical narratives of mental health service users/survivors accessing long term “treatment” in England. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, 7(2), 179-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/jcrpp-02-2020-0027
• Donovan, C., Clayton, J., & Macdonald, S. (2019). New Directions in Hate Reporting Research: Agency, Heterogeneity and Relationality. Sociological Research Online, 24(2), 185-202. https://doi.org/10.1177/1360780418798848
• Macdonald, S., & Cosgrove, F. (2019). Dyslexia and policing: Understanding the impact that dyslexia has in the police service in England and Wales. https://doi.org/10.1108/edi-11-2018-0218
• Macdonald, S. (2019). From ‘Disordered’ To ‘Diverse’: Defining Six Sociological Frameworks Employed in the Study of Dyslexia in the UK. Insights on learning disabilities, 16(1), 1-22
• Macdonald, S., & Deacon, L. (2019). Twice upon a time: Examining the effect socio-economic status has on the experience of dyslexia in the United Kingdom. Dyslexia, 25(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.1606
• Macdonald, S., Nixon, J., & Deacon, L. (2018). ‘Loneliness in the city’: examining socio-economics, loneliness and poor health in the North East of England. Public Health, 165, 88-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2018.09.003
• Macdonald, S., Deacon, L., Nixon, J., Akintola, A., Gillingham, A., Kent, J., …Highmore, L. (2018). ‘The invisible enemy’: disability, loneliness and isolation. Disability and Society, 33(7), 1138-1159. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2018.1476224
• Macdonald, S., Charnock, A., & Scutt, J. (2018). Marketing ‘madness’: conceptualising service user/survivor biographies in a period of deinstitutionalisation (1975–2014). Disability and Society, 33(6), 849-865. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2018.1463195
• Deacon, L., Macdonald, S., Nixon, J., Akintola, A., Dore, S., Ellis, G., …Sullivan, S. (2018). The loss: Conceptualising biographical experiences of disability, social isolation and emotional loneliness in North-East England
• Macdonald, S. J., Donovan, C., & Clayton, J. (2017). The disability bias: understanding the context of hate in comparison with other minority populations. Disability and Society, https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2017.1304206
• Macdonald, S., Charnock, A., & Scutt, J. (2017). Mad studies and social work: Conceptualising the subjectivities of service user/survivors who experience significant mental health problems
• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., & Macdonald, S. J. (2016). A Critical Portrait of Hate Crime/Incident Reporting in North East England: The Value of Statistical Data and the Politics of Recording in an Age of Austerity. Geoforum, 75, 64-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2016.07.001
• Macdonald, S., LDeacon, L., & Merchant, J. (2016). “Too Far Gone”: Dyslexia, Homelessness, and Pathways to Drug Use and Dependency
• Macdonald, S. J. (2015). Tom Campbell. Dyslexia: the government of reading. Disability and Society, 30(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2014.964508
• Macdonald, S. (2015). ‘Community fear and harassment’: learning difficulties and hate crime incidents in the north-east of England. Disability and Society, 30(3), 353-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2015.1009000
• Macdonald, S., & Deacon, L. (2014). ‘No sanctuary’: Missed opportunities in health and social services for homeless people with dyslexia?. https://doi.org/10.1921/13103170307
• MacDonald, S., & Taylor-Gooby, D. (2014). 'Patient zero': A critical investigation of the concept of public and patient involvement in the national health service. https://doi.org/10.1921/6503170103
• Macdonald, S., & Clayton, J. (2013). Back to the future, disability and the digital divide. Disability and Society, 28(5), 702-718. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2012.732538
• Macdonald, S. J. (2012). “Journey's end”: statistical pathways into offending for adults with specific learning difficulties. Journal of learning disabilities and offending behaviour, 3(2), https://doi.org/10.1108/20420921211280079
• Macdonald, S., & Cappleman-Morgan, J. (2012). Sociology in Practice: Dyslexia Action Needed
• Macdonald, S. (2012). Biographical pathways into criminality: Understanding the relationship between dyslexia and educational disengagement. Disability and Society, 27(3), 427-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2012.654992
• Macdonald, S., & Taylor-Gooby, D. (2010). The Role of Patient Involvement in Practice Based Commissioning within the UK's National Health Service. https://doi.org/10.9754/journal.wmc.2010.00853
• Macdonald, S. (2010). Towards a social reality of dyslexia. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 38(4), 271-279. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3156.2009.00601.x
• Macdonald, S. (2009). Windows of reflection: Conceptualizing dyslexia using the social model of disability. Dyslexia, 15(4), 347-362. https://doi.org/10.1002/dys.391

Monograph

• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., Macdonald, S., Cosmina, U., & Knight, M. (2021). Exploring ‘hate relationships’ through Connected Voice’s Hate Crime Advocacy Service. Durham University
• Macdonald, S., & Taylor-Gooby, D. (2010). Evaluation of Patient Involvement in Primary Care Trusts in East Durham. Department of Health
• Clayton, J., Macdonald, S., & Wilcock, A. (2010). Digital Challenge Evaluation. Sunderland: Department of Community and Local Government. Department of Community and Local Government

Other (Print)

• Clayton, J., Donovan, C., & Macdonald, S. (2016). Exploring third party reporting across categories of hate in Tyne and Wear