Allegations of Abuse by AbleGamers Founder Surface from Former Employees, Community

In 2004, AbleGamers emerged as a nonprofit committed to amplifying disabled voices and enhancing accessibility within the gaming sector. Over nearly two decades, the organization has delivered keynote speeches at industry events, generated millions through charitable fundraisers, and served as a reliable resource for developers and gamers alike. AbleGamers and video game accessibility became virtually synonymous, with reporters, developers, and the public recognizing them as pivotal in advancing accessibility.

Fueled by Mark Barlet, the charity collaborated with studios such as Xbox to design the Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation to create the Access Controller, and Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Beyond partnerships, AbleGamers purportedly advises developers on integrating accessibility features into their games. Although they previously distributed adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, they have since discontinued that initiative as the accessibility movement expanded, boosting the organization’s presence and influence.

However, close to two decades after its inception, recent reports from ex-employees and accessibility advocates expose allegations of abuse, financial mismanagement, and a board that neglected to safeguard its workforce.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet envisioned AbleGamers as a charity celebrating disabled inclusion in gaming. According to a post on the AbleGamers website, Barlet guided the organization to deliver services like peer counseling, fostering a sense of community, and offering consulting services. Internally, however, sources recount an environment that starkly contrasted its mission.

A former employee, who chose to remain anonymous, recounts Barlet's behavior becoming concerning a few years into their tenure. During their approximately ten-year stint, the source recounts several instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed at them. “He kept telling me I was HR for the charity because I’m a woman,” the source said. “At this 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 for me to handle due to lacking the necessary credentials.”

The source claims Barlet occasionally joked about the aforementioned HR case for weeks, making numerous employees uncomfortable. Barlet would periodically assert that the source was HR because she “was the woman of the group.”

Throughout their decade-long employment, the source endured behaviors they perceived as aggressive, both directed at them and others in the company. They recount overhearing racist remarks about colleagues, stepping in to mediate a conflict between Barlet and a coworker, and witnessing numerous inappropriate comments from Barlet, such as, “We need to get the most f\*\*\*ed up disabled person to be on our marketing, the one with real multiple disabilities.” Barlet followed this by making obscene gestures, mocking individuals with physical disabilities.

Barlet also made sexually explicit remarks and comments about the source in front of others, particularly during staff meetings or when working in person.

“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 acknowledges that Barlet would initially support and befriend new employees but would start harassing them as they progressed within the organization. Each time Barlet was confronted for his inappropriate conduct, he would deflect by claiming he was merely joking. The source notes that Barlet’s behaviors toward them intensified with every instance of speaking out.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet’s allegedly hostile and inappropriate actions extended beyond AbleGamers. The source recounts Barlet consistently belittling or insulting other accessibility advocates in the field. To them, it seemed Barlet desired AbleGamers to be the sole resource for accessibility within the industry and would disparage others when they gained prominence.

“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. At a business meeting discussing major initiatives, the source recalls Barlet growing increasingly irate. Every time accessibility was mentioned, Barlet would loudly interrupt by saying, “Shut up, shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Barlet then dominated the 30-minute presentation, speaking over the discussion.

Another accessibility advocate, who wished to remain anonymous, also confirmed Barlet’s behaviors. After discovering the source’s interest in accessibility, Barlet reportedly stated over a call, “You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond.”

Finally, yet another accessibility advocate recounts that upon discussing a potential collaboration, Barlet demanded they hand over all their work, asserting that AbleGamers would claim ownership. Barlet allegedly threatened to sabotage the project through his "deep industry contacts" if the source refused.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet’s adverse effects extended far beyond his interactions with employees and peers in the accessibility community. As the founder and former Executive Director of AbleGamers, Barlet initiated new initiatives and programs for the organization. Under the guise of aiding disabled players, the charity amassed millions in donations from studios and players alike. Yet, new questions arise regarding how these funds were utilized.

According to a former AbleGamers employee who wished to remain anonymous, Barlet’s extravagant spending created tension within the company. Allegedly, his access to funds did little to advance the mission, instead leading to wasteful expenditures.

“In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders at the org had been discussing 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 source notes that funds were regularly allocated for first-class tickets for certain leadership, hotel rooms before or after events, and expensive meals for office staff, primarily consisting of remote employees. The source indicates that employees frequently questioned the financials whenever non-essential expenditures were made. This was especially evident when Barlet purchased a van for taking AbleGamers services on the road. According to the original source, Barlet “bought a van one day, wrapped it, and said we’re doing this. The money just sank. The van did nothing for us.” The purchase of the vehicle occurred during the pandemic, and as the source explains, couldn’t be properly utilized with quarantine and work-from-home orders.

Revenues were not great, and expenses were out of control.

Both former employees we spoke to noted the purchase of a Tesla vehicle charger for the headquarters. According to the original source, some members of leadership directed their teams to be more frugal with their budgets, citing funding concerns. The source explains that “Mark paid to have a Tesla charger at the headquarters. None of us drove a Tesla except him.” The second source notes the independent board of AbleGamers began combing through credit card statements or bank transfer statements within the past year. They came across the Tesla charger and expressed frustration with \[Barlet\] using AbleGamers' money to install a Tesla charger. The source explains that Barlet claimed to do this for the organization, but like the first source, notes that nobody within the company drove a Tesla besides Barlet.

Beyond non-essential expenditures, the second source notes that internally, there was discrepancy among staff regarding salaries. Leadership regularly questioned why members of the organization were being paid more than those in higher positions, especially since Barlet controlled salary amounts. According to the source, salaries appeared to target alleged favoritism, with some employees earning far more for doing far less within the company.

“A lot of the directors including senior directors did not agree that Mark should be drawing that much of a salary, that was always a point of contention,” the source said. “There were people that were not directors making more than directors. There were senior directors making less than directors. There were people doing next to nothing making almost the highest amount, minus \[Barlet\]. There was a lack of consistency with raises here and there.”

Leadership Failures

To coincide with Barlet’s financial mismanagement, the original source explains that AbleGamers’ board ordered the hiring of a Certified Public Accountant who was granted the role of Chief Financial Officer. For approximately two years, the source was told by leaders that the CFO “rang the alarm, saying ‘Something is terribly wrong with our finances.’” Despite his concerns and warnings, the source notes the board failed to act on them, and according to the source, the CFO left