Allegations of Abuse by AbleGamers Founder Surface from Ex-Employees, Community

In 2004, AbleGamers emerged as a beacon of hope within the gaming community, dedicated to enhancing accessibility and amplifying disabled voices. Over the past two decades, this nonprofit has made significant strides, presenting talks at industry events, raising millions through annual charity events, and serving as a pivotal resource for both developers and players. AbleGamers became synonymous with video game accessibility, earning recognition from reporters, developers, and the public as a leading force in this area.

Founded by Mark Barlet, AbleGamers forged impactful partnerships with major players in the industry. They collaborated with Xbox to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller, worked alongside PlayStation to create the Access Controller, and partnered with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond these collaborations, AbleGamers has acted as a consultant to developers, guiding them in implementing accessibility options in games. Although they once provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has been discontinued. As the accessibility movement has grown, so has AbleGamers' influence and presence across the industry.

However, two decades after its inception, troubling reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, alleging abuse, financial mismanagement by leadership, and a lack of oversight from the board.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet founded AbleGamers with the vision of fostering disabled inclusion in gaming. According to the organization's website, Barlet's leadership aimed to offer services such as peer counseling, community building for disabled individuals, and consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources claim that the environment did not align with these mission goals.

An anonymous former employee, who worked with the charity for about ten years, described several concerning incidents involving Barlet. They recounted experiencing sexist and emotionally abusive comments, being inappropriately assigned to handle HR cases without proper credentials due to their gender, and witnessing racist remarks and inappropriate behavior towards disabled individuals. The source detailed instances where Barlet made sexually explicit remarks and mocked physical disabilities, creating an uncomfortable and hostile work environment.

The source noted that Barlet's behavior escalated over time, particularly when confronted about his actions. He would often dismiss concerns by claiming his comments were just jokes, yet his behavior reportedly became increasingly hostile towards those who spoke out.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet's alleged inappropriate behavior extended beyond AbleGamers, affecting the broader accessibility community. The source reported that Barlet would belittle and insult other accessibility advocates, seemingly aiming to maintain AbleGamers as the sole authority in the field. At industry events like The Game Accessibility Conference, Barlet allegedly criticized other speakers and advocates, undermining their efforts and credibility.

Multiple accessibility advocates corroborated these accounts, describing instances where Barlet interrupted and spoke over them during meetings, and even threatened to take over their work and ruin their projects if they did not comply with his demands.

Financial Mismanagement

As the founder and former Executive Director, Barlet played a key role in developing new initiatives and programs for AbleGamers. However, questions have arisen about the use of the millions in donations received from studios and players. Former employees allege that Barlet's spending was wasteful and did not align with the organization's mission.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, concerns about finances were raised among senior leaders. Allegedly, funds were used for first-class tickets, extended hotel stays, and lavish meals for office staff, most of whom worked remotely. The purchase of a van during the pandemic, which was underutilized due to quarantine measures, and the installation of a Tesla charger at the headquarters for Barlet's personal use, further fueled internal tensions. Additionally, discrepancies in salary distribution, seemingly influenced by favoritism, were a point of contention within the organization.

Leadership Failures

Amidst financial concerns, AbleGamers' board hired a Certified Public Accountant as the Chief Financial Officer, who reportedly raised alarms about the charity's finances. Despite these warnings, the board allegedly failed to take action, and the CFO eventually left and then returned to the organization.

Former employees claim that Barlet intentionally kept the board at arm's length, limiting communication and maintaining control over the organization. In April 2024, an investigation by ADP recommended Barlet's immediate termination due to severe allegations, but the board reportedly 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's failure to protect employees. The board's internal investigation was slow and lacked transparency, with staff receiving little guidance on projects, reporting structures, and budgets during this period.

Barlet's removal in September 2024 was controversial, with the board instructing staff to refer to Barlet's LinkedIn statement, which praised the organization's future without addressing the allegations. Employees who participated in the investigation were allegedly fired, and former leadership, including Steven Spohn, reportedly used manipulative language to discourage former employees from speaking out.

Barlet's Comments

After leaving AbleGamers, Barlet, along with Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group serving various industries. In response to allegations of workplace abuse and harassment, Barlet claimed an independent investigation cleared him, asserting the allegations arose after he proposed workforce cuts. He also denied claims of harassing members of the disability community, attributing criticism to his long career and public interactions.

Regarding financial allegations, Barlet explained that office meals were a perk for local employees and that extended hotel stays facilitated important meetings and donations. He justified first-class travel as being part of a board-approved policy and necessary due to his disability. Barlet refuted claims of a Tesla charger installation, insisting it was merely a plug, and denied that the board was inaccessible, claiming they were available via Slack.

However, sources familiar with the organization's finances and operations contradicted Barlet's claims, highlighting discrepancies in spending, salary distribution, and board accessibility. Barlet's refusal to provide documentation to support his statements further complicated the situation.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented a beacon of hope and inclusion. Yet, the allegations against its leadership have cast a shadow over its mission. The first source expressed profound disappointment, describing how Barlet's behavior shattered their dream career within the organization.