In 2004, AbleGamers was established as a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing disabled voices and improving accessibility in the gaming industry. For nearly two decades, the organization has been a prominent presence at industry events, raised millions through annual charity events, and served as a vital resource for both developers and players. Throughout its history, AbleGamers has been synonymous with video game accessibility, earning a reputation as a key advocate for advancing this cause.

Founded by Mark Barlet, AbleGamers collaborated with major studios such as Xbox to develop the Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation for the Access Controller, and partnered with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond these industry partnerships, AbleGamers has acted as consultants, guiding developers on implementing accessibility options in games. Although they previously distributed 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, approximately 20 years after its inception, new allegations from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, accusing the leadership 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 disabled inclusion in gaming. According to the AbleGamers website, Barlet led efforts to provide peer counseling, foster a sense of community for disabled individuals, and offer consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources report a work environment that contradicted these goals.

A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, described experiencing concerning behavior from Barlet just a few years into their approximately 10-year tenure. The source recounted instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments, including being assigned to handle HR responsibilities due to their gender, despite lacking the necessary credentials.

“He kept telling me I was HR for the charity because I’m a woman,” the source said. “At that time, I was the only woman in the charity. He then sent me to work on a literal HR case that I now know was illegal because I didn’t have those credentials.”

The source also reported overhearing racist remarks, witnessing aggressive behavior towards other employees, and experiencing inappropriate comments from Barlet, such as mocking individuals with disabilities and making sexually explicit remarks, particularly during staff meetings.

“During an all-hands internal meeting, I was two months postpartum, and before the meeting, everyone was either in call or in the conference room physically, and he said my jugs had gotten so big that he wouldn’t know how to handle them,” the source said. “About a week later, we were walking past each other, and he went up to me with his hands outstretched hovering over my [chest] and said ‘Haha, they’re so big, I wouldn’t know how to handle them because I’m gay.’”

The source noted that Barlet would initially be supportive and friendly to new employees, but his behavior would turn hostile as they advanced within the organization. Confrontations about his conduct were met with deflection, with Barlet claiming he was joking.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet's alleged inappropriate behavior extended beyond AbleGamers. The source reported that he would belittle or insult other accessibility advocates, seemingly aiming to maintain AbleGamers as the sole authority on accessibility within the industry.

“Especially at [The Game Accessibility Conference], he said something about almost every speaker that came up,” the source said. “Anyone that either spoke or was an advocate, just how they are idiots. One woman that I know worked closely with Xbox Accessibility, he would tout that she only got there because of her father, and she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet’s behavior at industry events, recounting how Barlet would interrupt and speak over others during presentations. Another advocate reported being told by Barlet that they were a "drop in the pond of accessibility" and that he "owned the pond." Additionally, Barlet allegedly demanded ownership of another advocate's work, threatening to sabotage the project if refused.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet's influence also impacted AbleGamers' finances negatively. As the founder and former Executive Director, he helped launch new initiatives and programs, attracting millions in donations. However, questions have arisen about the use of these funds. A former employee described Barlet's spending as wasteful, citing instances where funds were used for first-class flights, extended hotel stays, and expensive meals for office staff, most of whom worked remotely.

“In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders at the org had been talking about [finances] for quite some time,” the source said. “We were really wanting to get a sense of how to develop our budgets as pillar leads. This came to light where a lot of the senior directors had knowledge about the finances, and that the revenues were not great, and that expenses were out of control.”

The purchase of a van for mobile services during the pandemic was cited as an example of poor financial management, as it could not be used effectively due to quarantine restrictions. Additionally, the installation of a Tesla charger at the headquarters, used only by Barlet, was criticized as an unnecessary expense. There were also concerns about salary discrepancies, with some employees receiving higher pay for less work, suggesting favoritism.

Leadership Failures

Alongside financial mismanagement, the board's failure to act on the concerns raised by a Certified Public Accountant, who served as CFO for two years, was noted. Despite the CFO's warnings about the organization's finances, the board did not respond, and the CFO eventually left and returned.

Both former employees highlighted the board's lack of engagement and protection for employees. Barlet allegedly controlled communication with the board, limiting direct access for staff. In April 2024, an investigation by ADP recommended Barlet's immediate termination, but the board allegedly ignored this advice.

In May 2024, an EEOC complaint was filed, followed by another in subsequent months, citing issues of racism, ableism, sexual harassment, and misogyny. The board's internal investigation was slow and lacked transparency, culminating in Barlet's resignation announcement on September 25, 2024. Staff received little guidance during this transition, and the investigation was conducted by a law firm with ties to AbleGamers, raising questions about its impartiality.

Barlet's departure was controversial, with him receiving severance and the board allegedly retaliating against those who had spoken out. Several employees who filed reports or talked to lawyers were fired in November and December 2024. Even after Barlet's exit, former leadership, including Steven Spohn, allegedly used manipulative language to dissuade former employees from speaking out.

Barlet’s Comments

After leaving AbleGamers, Barlet, along with Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group targeting various industries beyond gaming. When addressing the allegations, Barlet claimed that an independent third-party investigation found no merit to the claims of workplace abuse and harassment. He suggested these allegations emerged after he was advised to cut the workforce and noted that the investigation was conducted internally by a law firm affiliated with AbleGamers.

Barlet acknowledged that not everyone in the disability community appreciated his approach but maintained that his long career involved meeting many people. He justified in-office meals as a perk for the few employees who regularly visited the office and explained extended hotel stays as necessary for securing significant donations and contracts. Regarding first-class flights, he cited a board-approved travel policy and his disability as reasons for his choices, though sources disputed his claims and noted his refusal to share the policy.

Barlet denied the allegations about the Tesla charger, claiming it was merely a plug, not a full unit, contradicting accounts from board members. He also refuted claims of limited board access, stating that all board members were available via Slack, though sources clarified this applied only to the internal board.

Throughout his interactions with IGN, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word, and repeatedly declined to provide documentation or other sources off the record.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers represented hope and advocacy. However, the alleged misconduct by its leadership has tarnished this image, particularly affecting those who saw the organization as their dream workplace.

“It definitely crushed me,” the source said. “I cried a lot. I cried a lot to my family, friends, and therapist because that was my dream job. [Barlet] just burned it to the ground.”