Founded in 2004, AbleGamers has been a beacon of hope for the gaming community, dedicated to enhancing accessibility and amplifying disabled voices within the industry. Over the past two decades, this nonprofit has made significant strides, delivering speeches 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 inclusivity.
Under the leadership of Mark Barlet, the organization 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. AbleGamers has also positioned itself as a consultant to developers, guiding them on implementing accessibility options in games. While they once provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has since been discontinued. As the accessibility movement has grown, so too has AbleGamers’ influence and presence across the industry.
However, recent reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, alleging a troubling environment within AbleGamers. These reports detail accusations of abuse, financial mismanagement, and a board that failed to safeguard its employees.
Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions
Mark Barlet founded AbleGamers with the mission to celebrate disabled inclusion in gaming. According to the organization's website, Barlet led efforts to provide peer counseling, foster a sense of community among disabled individuals, and offer consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources allege a stark contrast to these mission goals.
A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience of working at AbleGamers for approximately ten years. They described Barlet's behavior as concerning, citing instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments. The source recounted being labeled as the organization's HR representative solely because of their gender, despite lacking the necessary credentials. They were involved in an HR case that they believed was illegal for them to handle.
The source also reported overhearing racist remarks and witnessing Barlet's aggressive behavior toward others. They recalled a particularly disturbing incident where Barlet allegedly mocked individuals with physical disabilities, making obscene gestures and stating, "We need to get the most f\*\*\*ed up disabled person to be on our marketing, the one with real multiple disabilities." Furthermore, Barlet allegedly made sexually explicit remarks about the source, particularly during staff meetings and in-person interactions.
The source noted that while Barlet initially supported new employees, his behavior turned hostile as they grew within the organization. Whenever confronted about his actions, Barlet reportedly dismissed the concerns, claiming to be joking. The source felt that his behavior became increasingly hostile with each confrontation.
Toxicity Outside the Charity
Barlet's alleged inappropriate behavior extended beyond AbleGamers. The source reported that he consistently belittled or insulted other accessibility advocates, seemingly aiming to maintain AbleGamers' dominance in the field. At industry events like The Game Accessibility Conference, Barlet allegedly criticized other speakers and advocates, undermining their efforts and credibility.
An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet's behavior at these events, describing instances where he interrupted discussions on accessibility with dismissive comments. Another advocate reported being told by Barlet, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond," indicating a desire to control the accessibility space. Additionally, Barlet allegedly demanded ownership of another advocate's work, threatening to sabotage the project if they did not comply.
Financial Mismanagement
As the founder and former Executive Director, Barlet played a significant role in creating new initiatives for AbleGamers. However, questions have arisen about the use of the millions in donations received from studios and players. A former employee alleged 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 poor and expenses were out of control. The source claimed that funds were often allocated for first-class tickets, unnecessary hotel stays, and lavish meals for office staff, despite the organization primarily consisting of remote employees. A particularly criticized expenditure was the purchase of a van during the pandemic, which was underutilized due to quarantine and work-from-home orders.
Both former employees mentioned the installation of a Tesla charger at the headquarters, which was allegedly used only by Barlet, despite claims that it was for the organization. The independent board reportedly expressed frustration upon discovering this expense. Additionally, there were discrepancies in staff salaries, with some employees allegedly receiving higher pay for less work, attributed to Barlet's control over salary decisions.
Leadership Failures
Amidst financial mismanagement, the board hired a Certified Public Accountant as Chief Financial Officer, who reportedly raised alarms about the organization's finances. Despite these warnings, the board allegedly failed to take action, and the CFO left the organization toward the end of the previous year.
Both former employees noted that the board, influenced by Barlet, maintained a distance from staff, limiting communication. In April 2024, a former employee initiated an investigation through ADP, which recommended Barlet's immediate termination due to the severity of the allegations. However, the board reportedly ignored these findings.
In May 2024, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint was filed, followed by others, citing racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and leadership's failure to protect employees. The board conducted an internal investigation, but their response was slow and lacked transparency. Staff were left uninformed about project directions, leadership roles, and the investigation's progress.
The internal investigation was conducted by a law firm with direct ties to AbleGamers, raising questions about its impartiality. Barlet's departure was announced in September 2024, but the board's communication was minimal, directing staff to Barlet's LinkedIn statement. Following his removal, several employees who had spoken out against Barlet were allegedly fired.
Former leadership, including Steven Spohn, reportedly attempted to dissuade former employees from speaking out, citing concerns about the charity's reputation. Despite these efforts, the issues at AbleGamers have come to light, prompting a reevaluation of the organization's practices and leadership.
Barlet’s Comments
After leaving AbleGamers, Barlet, along with Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group that serves various industries. When addressing 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 reduce the workforce. However, sources question the integrity of the internal investigation, noting its ties to AbleGamers and Barlet.
Barlet also acknowledged that not everyone in the accessibility community liked him, given his 20-year career. Regarding the in-office meal expenses, he stated that these were a perk for the seven to nine employees who regularly visited the office. He denied allegations of extended hotel stays, explaining that he used these times for productive meetings that resulted in significant donations and contracts.
On the topic of first-class flights, Barlet mentioned a board-approved travel policy that allowed directors to upgrade to business class on long flights. He claimed his disability necessitated first-class travel but did not provide the policy to support this. An AbleGamers employee handbook provided to IGN contradicted his claims, emphasizing the need for reasonable and approved expenses.
Barlet denied allegations of the Tesla charger, claiming it was a plug rather than a full unit. He also stated that the board was accessible via Slack, though sources clarified that the independent board, responsible for investigating his departure, was not available on the platform.
Throughout the exchanges with IGN, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word. He repeatedly declined to share documentation unless off the record and failed to provide other sources to corroborate his claims.
For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented a beacon of positivity and inclusivity in the gaming industry. However, the recent revelations have cast a shadow over the organization's leadership and practices. The first source, who experienced Barlet's alleged behavior firsthand, expressed deep disappointment, stating, "It definitely crushed me. I cried a lot to my family, friends, and therapist because that was my dream job. [Barlet] just burned it to the ground."
