"AbleGamers Founder Accused of Fostering Abuse, Say Former Staff and Community"

In 2004, AbleGamers was established as a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating disabled voices and improving accessibility in the gaming industry. Over the past two decades, AbleGamers has significantly contributed to the field by presenting talks at industry events, raising millions through annual charity events, and serving as a vital resource for both developers and players. The organization has become synonymous with video game accessibility, earning recognition from reporters, developers, and the public as a key player in advancing the cause.

Founded by Mark Barlet, AbleGamers has collaborated with major studios such as Xbox to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller and PlayStation to create the Access Controller. They also partnered with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond these partnerships, AbleGamers has acted as consultants, guiding developers on implementing accessibility options in games. While they previously provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has been discontinued. As the accessibility movement has grown, so has AbleGamers' influence within the industry.

However, recent reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, detailing allegations of abuse, financial mismanagement, and a lack of oversight by the board.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet's mission with AbleGamers was to foster a charity that celebrates disabled inclusion in gaming. According to the AbleGamers website, Barlet led the organization to offer services such as peer counseling, community building for disabled individuals, and consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources suggest a stark contrast to the organization's mission.

A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted troubling experiences during their approximately 10-year tenure with the charity. The source described instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed towards them by Barlet. "He kept telling me I was HR for the charity because I'm a woman," the source said. "At the time, I was the only woman in the charity. He then sent me to work on an HR case that I now know was illegal because I didn't have the credentials."

The source claims Barlet's behavior continued to escalate, including making light of the HR case and causing discomfort among employees. They also described overhearing racist remarks, having to verbally intervene in conflicts, and witnessing inappropriate comments such as, "We need to get the most f***ed up disabled person to be on our marketing, the one with real multiple disabilities," followed by Barlet making obscene gestures mocking individuals with physical disabilities.

Barlet's alleged inappropriate behavior extended to sexually explicit remarks made about the source in front of others, particularly during staff meetings. "During an all-hands internal meeting, I was two months postpartum, and he said my jugs had gotten so big that he wouldn't know how to handle them," the source recalled. A week later, Barlet allegedly approached the source with outstretched hands, making similar comments about her chest.

The source noted that while Barlet initially showed support for new employees, his behavior turned hostile when they challenged him, with Barlet deflecting criticism by claiming he was joking.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet's alleged hostility and inappropriate behavior were not confined to AbleGamers. The source reported that Barlet consistently demeaned or insulted other accessibility advocates. It appeared that Barlet aimed to position AbleGamers as the sole resource for accessibility in the industry, reacting negatively to the growing presence of others.

At industry events like The Game Accessibility Conference, Barlet allegedly criticized nearly every speaker, dismissing them as idiots and undermining their credibility. An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet's behavior, describing how he would interrupt discussions about accessibility, loudly proclaiming, "Shut up, shut up, you don't know what you're talking about," and speaking over them during a 30-minute presentation.

Another advocate recounted Barlet's territorial attitude, stating over a call, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond." Additionally, when discussing potential collaborations, Barlet allegedly demanded ownership of the advocate's work and threatened to sabotage the project using his industry contacts if the advocate refused.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet's impact extended beyond interpersonal interactions to the financial management of AbleGamers. As the founder and former Executive Director, Barlet helped launch new initiatives and programs. However, questions have arisen about the allocation of the millions in donations received from studios and players.

A former AbleGamers employee, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted Barlet's alleged wasteful spending. In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders discussed financial concerns, noting poor revenues and uncontrolled expenses. Funds were reportedly used for first-class tickets, extended hotel stays, and expensive meals for mostly remote staff.

The source also mentioned the purchase of a van for AbleGamers' services, which was made during the pandemic and could not be utilized due to quarantine restrictions. Additionally, a Tesla vehicle charger was installed at the headquarters, allegedly for Barlet's personal use, despite no other employees owning a Tesla.

Internally, there were discrepancies in salaries, with some employees earning more than their superiors, suggesting favoritism and lack of consistency in pay raises.

Leadership Failures

In response to financial concerns, AbleGamers' board hired a Certified Public Accountant as the Chief Financial Officer for about two years. The CFO reportedly raised alarms about the organization's finances, but the board failed to act, leading to the CFO's departure and subsequent return.

Both former employees noted that the board failed to protect employees and address issues in a timely manner. Barlet allegedly maintained tight control over communication with the board, preventing employees from voicing concerns directly.

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 board allegedly ignored these findings.

In May 2024, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint was filed, followed by additional complaints citing racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and leadership failures. The board's response was slow, with the first communication about the transition process occurring on June 25, 2024, and Barlet's departure announced on September 25, 2024.

Throughout the investigation, employees were directed to communicate with AbleGamers' legal team rather than the board. The investigation was conducted by a law firm with direct ties to AbleGamers, raising concerns about its impartiality.

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. Barlet received severance, which caused further conflict among employees. Several employees who spoke out against Barlet were allegedly fired in November and December 2024.

Former leadership, including Steven Spohn, allegedly reached out to former employees, using manipulative language to discourage them from speaking to the media.

Barlet's Comments

After leaving AbleGamers, Barlet and Cheryl Mitchell founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group serving various industries. Regarding the allegations, Barlet claimed they were unfounded after an internal investigation. He suggested the allegations surfaced after he was advised to reduce the workforce.

Barlet denied allegations of harassing members of the disability community, stating that not everyone liked him over his 20-year career. He explained that office meals were a perk for the seven to nine employees who reported to the office weekly, and denied claims of extravagant spending on meals.

Regarding extended hotel stays, Barlet claimed they were necessary for meetings with gaming companies and donors, resulting in significant contracts and donations. He also noted a board-approved travel policy allowing directors to upgrade to business class on flights over four hours, citing his disability as a reason for flying first class.

Barlet denied allegations about the Tesla charger, claiming it was just a plug, not a full unit. He also stated that board members were accessible via Slack, though sources clarified this applied only to the internal board, not the independent board responsible for the investigation.

Throughout his interactions with IGN, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word, and refused to share documentation unless interviews were off the record.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented a beacon of positivity in an industry lacking proper disability and accessibility representation. However, the alleged actions of leadership, particularly Barlet, have left former employees, like the first source, devastated. "It definitely crushed me," the source said. "I cried a lot to my family, friends, and therapist because that was my dream job. [Barlet] just burned it to the ground."