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

Founded in 2004, AbleGamers emerged as a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to enhancing accessibility and amplifying disabled voices within the gaming industry. Over the past two decades, the organization has made significant strides, delivering impactful speeches at industry events, raising millions through annual charity drives, and serving as a vital resource for both developers and players. AbleGamers has become synonymous with video game accessibility, earning recognition from journalists, developers, and the public as a key player in advancing inclusive gaming experiences.

Under the leadership of its founder, Mark Barlet, AbleGamers forged influential partnerships with major gaming companies. Collaborations with Xbox led to the development of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, while work with PlayStation resulted in the Access Controller. Additionally, the organization teamed up with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond these industry connections, AbleGamers has positioned itself as a consultant, guiding developers in implementing accessibility features into their games. Although the organization previously distributed adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has been discontinued. As the push for accessibility in gaming has grown, so too has AbleGamers' influence and presence across the sector.

However, recent reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have cast a shadow over the organization. Allegations of abuse, financial mismanagement, and a lack of oversight from the board have surfaced, challenging the integrity and mission of AbleGamers.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet's vision for AbleGamers was to foster a charity that championed the inclusion of disabled gamers. According to the AbleGamers website, the organization offered services like peer counseling, community building for disabled individuals, and consultancy. Yet, behind the scenes, accounts from former staff paint a different picture.

A former employee, who chose to remain anonymous, reported disturbing behavior from Barlet during their decade-long tenure. The source recounted instances of sexist and emotionally abusive remarks, including being assigned to handle HR cases without proper credentials simply because, as Barlet allegedly stated, "I was HR for the charity because I'm a woman." This led to discomfort among many employees as Barlet continued to trivialize the situation.

The source further described an environment marked by aggressive behavior, including overhearing racist remarks, intervening in conflicts, and witnessing Barlet making derogatory comments about disabled individuals for marketing purposes. Barlet's inappropriate and sexually explicit remarks, especially during staff meetings, were also noted, with one particularly egregious incident involving a postpartum employee.

Barlet's behavior reportedly extended beyond AbleGamers, affecting other accessibility advocates. He allegedly spoke disparagingly about other industry figures and tried to monopolize the accessibility space, even threatening those who challenged his dominance.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

The negative impact of Barlet's actions was not confined to AbleGamers. Reports from accessibility advocates describe him belittling and insulting peers at industry events, such as The Game Accessibility Conference. One advocate recounted Barlet's disruptive behavior at a business meeting, where he interrupted and spoke over others, undermining their efforts. Another advocate recalled Barlet asserting control over the accessibility field, stating, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond."

Further allegations suggest Barlet demanded ownership of other advocates' work and threatened to sabotage projects if his demands were not met, leveraging his "deep industry contacts."

Financial Mismanagement

As the founder and former Executive Director, Barlet played a significant role in launching new initiatives for AbleGamers. The charity received millions in donations, ostensibly to benefit disabled players. However, concerns about financial mismanagement have emerged. A former employee highlighted Barlet's excessive spending, which included first-class travel, unnecessary hotel stays, and lavish meals for a predominantly remote staff.

One notable example of wasteful expenditure was the purchase of a van intended for mobile services, which remained unused due to the timing of its acquisition during the pandemic. Additionally, the installation of a Tesla charger at the headquarters, used solely by Barlet, drew criticism from employees and the board. Discrepancies in staff salaries also raised questions, with some employees allegedly receiving higher pay for less work, suggesting favoritism.

Leadership Failures

Amidst the financial issues, the AbleGamers 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 act, leading to the CFO's departure and subsequent return.

Both former employees emphasized the board's failure to protect staff and address issues in a timely manner. Barlet's control over communication with the board, limiting employee access, was a significant point of contention. An investigation by ADP in April 2024 recommended Barlet's immediate termination, but the board reportedly ignored these findings.

In June 2024, following EEOC complaints filed by employees citing racism, ableism, sexual harassment, and misogyny, the board initiated an internal investigation. However, the process was criticized for being slow and lacking transparency. Barlet was eventually asked to step down in September 2024, but the board's communication was minimal, directing staff to Barlet's LinkedIn statement instead of issuing their own.

After Barlet's departure, the board allegedly retaliated against employees who had spoken out, leading to several terminations. Former leadership, including Chief Operating Officer Steven Spohn, reportedly tried to dissuade former employees from speaking out, fearing damage to the charity's reputation.

Barlet's Comments

Following his departure from AbleGamers, Barlet co-founded AccessForge, a consulting group offering accessibility services across various sectors, including gaming. When addressing the allegations of workplace abuse and harassment, Barlet claimed an independent investigation cleared him of wrongdoing, though sources question the impartiality of the internal review.

Barlet denied accusations of financial mismanagement, explaining that office meals were a perk for employees and that extended hotel stays were justified by meetings with donors and companies that resulted in significant donations and contracts. He also defended first-class travel as part of a board-approved policy, though sources dispute this, citing instances of denied upgrade requests and mocking behavior.

Regarding employee salaries, Barlet asserted that compensation was based on education, experience, and position, a claim refuted by sources who noted discrepancies in pay scales. He denied the purchase of a Tesla charger, claiming it was merely a plug, a statement contradicted by board members and financial reports.

Barlet maintained that all board members were accessible via Slack, but sources clarified that this was only true for the internal board, not the independent board responsible for the investigation into his conduct.

For many in the disabled gaming community, AbleGamers represented hope and progress. Yet, the allegations of abuse and mismanagement have tarnished its reputation and left former employees, like the first source, devastated by the loss of what was once a dream job.