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

In 2004, AbleGamers was founded as a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the voices of disabled individuals and improving accessibility in the gaming industry. Over the past two decades, AbleGamers has significantly impacted the sector by delivering speeches at industry events, raising millions through annual charity events, and serving as a vital resource for both developers and gamers. The organization 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 collaborated with major studios like Xbox to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation to create the Access Controller, and even partnered with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond these partnerships, AbleGamers purports to act as consultants with developers to teach about the implementation of 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 has AbleGamers' influence within the industry.

However, around 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 protect its employees.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet's vision for AbleGamers was to create a charity that celebrated the inclusion of disabled individuals in gaming. According to a post on the AbleGamers website, Barlet led the organization to offer services such as peer counseling, fostering a sense of community among disabled individuals, and providing consulting services. However, behind the scenes, sources reveal a workplace environment that did not align with these mission goals.

A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted troubling experiences with Barlet's behavior starting a few years into their approximately 10-year tenure at the charity. The source described instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed at them. For example, the source was told they were HR for the charity simply because they were a woman, and were assigned to handle a legal HR case without the proper credentials. This situation was allegedly trivialized by Barlet for weeks, creating discomfort among the staff.

The source also witnessed and experienced aggressive behaviors, including racist remarks about other employees, inappropriate comments about disabled individuals for marketing purposes, and sexually explicit remarks about the source, particularly during staff meetings. The source noted that while Barlet initially befriended new employees, his behavior became increasingly hostile towards those who challenged his inappropriate actions.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet's alleged hostile and inappropriate behavior extended beyond AbleGamers. The source reported that he often demeaned or insulted other accessibility advocates, seemingly wanting AbleGamers to be the sole authority on accessibility in the industry. At events like The Game Accessibility Conference, Barlet reportedly criticized almost every speaker and belittled other advocates, including those working closely with Xbox Accessibility.

Anonymous accessibility advocates corroborated these accounts, describing instances where Barlet interrupted and spoke over others during industry meetings, and even claimed ownership over the accessibility space, threatening to ruin projects if others did not comply with his demands.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet's influence extended to financial matters as well. As the founder and former Executive Director, he helped launch new initiatives and programs, raising millions in donations under the banner of benefiting disabled players. However, former employees allege that Barlet's spending was wasteful and did not align with the organization's mission.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders reportedly discussed financial concerns, noting that revenues were low and expenses were out of control. Funds were allegedly used for first-class tickets for leadership, unnecessary hotel stays, and lavish meals for mostly remote staff. A particularly criticized purchase was a van intended for taking AbleGamers services on the road, which was bought during the pandemic and could not be utilized effectively.

Another contentious expenditure was a Tesla charger installed at the headquarters, allegedly for Barlet's personal use. Both sources mentioned that the independent board began reviewing financial statements and expressed frustration over such expenditures. Additionally, there were internal discrepancies regarding salaries, with some employees allegedly receiving higher pay due to favoritism rather than merit.

Leadership Failures

Alongside financial mismanagement, the original source revealed that the AbleGamers board hired a Certified Public Accountant as Chief Financial Officer, who raised concerns about the organization's finances. Despite these warnings, the board allegedly failed to act, and the CFO left and then returned to the organization.

Both former employees noted that the board's inaction was partly due to Barlet's control over the charity, including access to social media, bank accounts, and communication channels. In April 2024, a former employee initiated an investigation through ADP, which recommended Barlet's immediate termination. However, the board allegedly ignored these findings.

In June 2024, following EEOC complaints filed by employees alleging racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and leadership failures, the board began an internal investigation. The process was slow and lacked transparency, with staff receiving minimal communication about the investigation or organizational changes. The investigation was conducted by a law firm with ties to AbleGamers, raising questions about its impartiality.

Barlet's departure in September 2024 was controversial, with him receiving severance and the board allegedly retaliating against employees who spoke out. Several employees were let go in November and December 2024, reportedly for their involvement in the investigation. Former leadership, including Steven Spohn, allegedly attempted to dissuade former employees from speaking out, citing concerns about the charity's reputation.

Barlet's Comments

After leaving AbleGamers, Barlet, along with Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group targeting various sectors, including gaming. When confronted with allegations of workplace abuse and harassment, Barlet claimed that an independent third-party investigation found no evidence to support these claims. He suggested that the allegations surfaced after he was advised to reduce the workforce.

Regarding accusations of harassing members of the disability community, Barlet acknowledged that not everyone liked him during his 20-year career. He defended expenditures on in-office meals as perks for the few employees who regularly visited the office, and justified extended hotel stays as necessary for securing donations and contracts. Barlet also claimed that first-class flights were part of a board-approved travel policy, though sources disputed this, stating he often denied similar requests from other employees.

On the issue of salaries, Barlet stated that compensation was based on education, experience, and position, a claim refuted by sources who noted discrepancies in pay. He denied the allegations about the Tesla charger, insisting it was just a plug, not a full unit, though board members reportedly confirmed otherwise.

Barlet claimed that the board was accessible via Slack, but sources noted that only the internal board, not the independent board responsible for the investigation, was available through this channel. Throughout his interactions with IGN, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word, and refused to provide documentation unless off the record.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented a beacon of hope and advocacy. Yet, the alleged toxic behavior and financial mismanagement by leadership have cast a shadow over the organization's mission. The first source expressed profound disappointment, stating that Barlet's actions destroyed what was once their dream job.