AbleGamers Founder Accused of Fostering Abuse, Say Ex-Staff and Community

In 2004, AbleGamers was established as a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying disabled voices and enhancing accessibility within the gaming industry. Over the past two decades, the organization has been a prominent presence at industry events, raising millions through annual charity events, and serving as a vital resource for both developers and players. AbleGamers has become synonymous with video game accessibility, earning recognition from reporters, developers, and the public as a key player in advancing this cause.

Founded by Mark Barlet, AbleGamers has collaborated with major studios such as Xbox to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation for the Access Controller, and even partnered with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. In addition to these industry partnerships, AbleGamers has acted as consultants to developers, educating them on implementing accessibility options in games. Although they previously provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has been discontinued. As the accessibility movement has grown, so too has AbleGamers' influence and presence in the industry.

However, approximately 20 years after its inception, new reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, alleging abuse, financial mismanagement by leadership, and a board that failed to safeguard its employees.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet's mission with AbleGamers was to create a charity that celebrated disabled inclusion in gaming. According to a post on the AbleGamers website, Barlet led the organization in offering services like peer counseling, fostering a sense of community for disabled individuals, and providing consulting services. However, behind the scenes, sources recount an environment that starkly contrasted with these mission goals.

A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, described Barlet's behavior as concerning a few years into their approximately 10-year tenure with the charity. The source reported several instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed at them, including being told they were HR for the charity simply because they were a woman. This led to the source being assigned to handle an HR case without the necessary credentials, which they later learned was illegal.

The source also recounted Barlet's alleged racist remarks about other employees, aggressive behavior towards colleagues, and inappropriate comments about using disabled individuals for marketing purposes, including making obscene gestures mocking those with physical disabilities. Additionally, Barlet reportedly made sexually explicit remarks about the source, particularly during staff meetings and when working together in person, such as making inappropriate comments about her postpartum body.

The source noted that while Barlet would initially be supportive and friendly with new employees, his behavior would become harassing as they grew within the organization. Every time his inappropriate behavior was confronted, he would deflect by claiming it was a joke, and his hostility would escalate whenever the source spoke out against him.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet's allegedly hostile and inappropriate behaviors extended beyond AbleGamers. The source noted that he would consistently belittle or insult other accessibility advocates. It appeared that Barlet wanted AbleGamers to be the sole resource for accessibility in the industry, and when others gained prominence, he would speak ill of them or even threaten them.

At industry events like The Game Accessibility Conference, Barlet allegedly criticized almost every speaker, calling them idiots and undermining their credibility. An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet's disruptive behavior at a business meeting, where he loudly interrupted and spoke over them during a presentation on accessibility.

Another anonymous accessibility advocate reported that Barlet dismissed their efforts in accessibility, stating, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond." Yet another advocate mentioned that Barlet demanded ownership of their work during a potential collaboration, threatening to sabotage the project through his industry contacts if they refused.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet's negative impact went beyond his interactions with employees and the accessibility community. As the founder and former Executive Director of AbleGamers, he helped create new initiatives and programs. The charity received millions in donations, purportedly to benefit disabled players. However, questions have arisen about the allocation of these funds.

A former AbleGamers employee, who also wished to remain anonymous, highlighted Barlet's alleged wasteful spending, which caused internal tension. The source noted that funds were often used for first-class tickets for certain leadership, hotel rooms outside of event dates, and expensive meals for primarily remote office staff. The purchase of a van during the pandemic, which was meant to take AbleGamers services on the road but remained unused, was cited as an example of poor financial decisions.

Both former employees mentioned the installation of a Tesla vehicle charger at the headquarters, used exclusively by Barlet. The independent board expressed frustration upon discovering this expenditure. Internally, there were also discrepancies in salaries, with some employees earning more than those in higher positions, suggesting favoritism and inconsistency in raises.

Leadership Failures

Alongside Barlet's financial mismanagement, the original source noted that the AbleGamers board hired a Certified Public Accountant as the Chief Financial Officer. For about two years, the CFO raised concerns about the organization's finances, but the board failed to act, and the CFO eventually left and then returned.

Despite Barlet being the primary issue, both former employees stated that the leadership, particularly the independent board, failed to protect employees and act promptly. The source claimed that Barlet intentionally kept the board distant, limiting communication to himself and preventing others from reaching out.

In April 2024, a former employee initiated an investigation through ADP, a payroll and HR service, which recommended Barlet's immediate termination due to the severity of the allegations. However, the independent board allegedly ignored these findings. An Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint was filed in May 2024, followed by another complaint months later, citing racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and leadership's failure to protect employees.

The board's response was slow and inadequate, with the first communication about the transition process issued on June 25, 2024, and the announcement of Barlet's departure on September 25, 2024. Throughout the process, staff were directed to communicate with the legal team rather than the board, and there was a lack of clarity on project directives, leadership roles, and budget statuses.

The internal investigation was conducted by a law firm with direct ties to AbleGamers, raising questions about its impartiality. Barlet's control over the charity's social media, bank accounts, and logins further complicated the situation.

Barlet's removal was controversial, with him stating on LinkedIn that he was confident in leaving the mission to the next generation of leaders. The board did not issue a statement, instead directing staff to Barlet's post. After his departure, Barlet received severance, and the board allegedly retaliated against employees who had spoken out, leading to several terminations in November and December 2024.

Former leadership, including Steven Spohn, continued to create roadblocks, reportedly using manipulative language to discourage former employees from speaking out, fearing damage to the charity's reputation.

Barlet's Comments

Barlet, along with former Director of User Research at AbleGamers, Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group targeting various industries beyond gaming. When questioned about the allegations, Barlet claimed that an independent third-party investigation found no truth to the claims of workplace abuse and harassment. He suggested that these allegations surfaced after he was advised to cut back on the workforce.

Regarding accusations of harassing members of the disability community, Barlet noted that not everyone liked him after his 20-year career attending countless events. He justified in-office meal expenses as a perk for the employees who regularly visited the office, denying claims of extravagance. Barlet also defended extended hotel stays as necessary for meetings that resulted in significant donations and training contracts.

On first-class flight purchases, Barlet referenced a board-approved travel policy that allowed directors to upgrade to business class on long flights, citing his disability as a reason for frequent first-class travel. However, a provided employee handbook emphasized the need for restraint and approval for expenses, and sources disputed Barlet's claims about travel policies and salary fairness.

Barlet denied the purchase of a Tesla charger, claiming it was a plug rather than a full unit, despite sources and board members confirming the installation of a charging unit. He also stated that all board members were accessible via Slack, but sources clarified that the independent board responsible for the investigation was not available on the company's Slack.

Throughout the exchanges with IGN, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word, and refused to share documentation unless the correspondence was off the record.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented a beacon of hope and positivity in an industry often lacking in accessibility and representation. However, the reported behaviors and mismanagement by leadership have tarnished this image, particularly affecting former employees who saw their dream careers destroyed by these actions.