In 2004, AbleGamers was established as a nonprofit with a mission to elevate disabled voices and enhance accessibility in the gaming industry. Over the past two decades, the organization has actively engaged in industry events, raised millions through annual charity events, and served as a vital resource for both developers and players. AbleGamers became synonymous with video game accessibility, earning a reputation as a key player in advancing inclusive gaming.
Founded by Mark Barlet, AbleGamers 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. Beyond these partnerships, AbleGamers has positioned itself as a consultant to developers, offering expertise on implementing accessibility options in games. Although the organization once provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, this initiative has been discontinued. As the accessibility movement has grown, so too has AbleGamers' influence within the industry.
However, approximately 20 years after its inception, new reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community have surfaced, alleging abuse, financial mismanagement by leadership, and a board that failed to protect its employees.
Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions
Mark Barlet's vision for AbleGamers was to create a charity that celebrated disabled inclusion in gaming. According to the AbleGamers website, Barlet led the organization to offer services like peer counseling, foster a sense of community for disabled individuals, and provide consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources describe an environment that starkly contrasted these mission goals.
A former employee, who wished to remain anonymous, shared troubling experiences from their approximately 10-year tenure with the charity. They recounted instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed at them by Barlet. "He kept telling me I was HR for the charity because I'm a woman," the source said. "At the time, I was the only woman in the charity. He then sent me to work on an HR case that I now know was illegal because I didn't have the necessary credentials."
The source also highlighted Barlet's occasional light-hearted remarks about the HR case, which made several employees uncomfortable. They further described aggressive behaviors directed at them and others, including overhearing racist remarks, breaking up conflicts between Barlet and coworkers, and witnessing 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." In this instance, Barlet allegedly made obscene gestures, mocking individuals with physical disabilities.
Barlet also reportedly made sexually explicit remarks about the source in front of others, particularly during staff meetings or in-person collaborations. "During an all-hands internal meeting, I was two months postpartum, and before the meeting, everyone was either on 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 recounted. "About a week later, we were walking past each other, and he approached 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 while Barlet would initially support and befriend new employees, his behavior would shift to harassment as they grew within the organization. Whenever confronted about his inappropriate actions, Barlet would deflect, claiming it was just a joke. The source reported that his hostility escalated each time she spoke out against him.
Toxicity Outside the Charity
Barlet's alleged hostile and inappropriate behaviors extended beyond AbleGamers. The source noted that he would consistently belittle or insult other accessibility advocates. It appeared that Barlet wanted AbleGamers to be the sole resource for accessibility in the industry, and he would speak ill of others or even threaten them as their presence grew.
"Especially at [The Game Accessibility Conference], he said something about almost every speaker that came up," the source said. "Anyone who spoke or was an advocate, he'd call them idiots. One woman I know, who worked closely with Xbox Accessibility, he claimed she only got there because of her father and didn't know what she was doing."
An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet's behavior at industry events. During a business meeting discussing major initiatives, the source noted that Barlet grew increasingly irate, loudly interrupting discussions on accessibility by saying, "Shut up, shut up, you don't know what you're talking about." Barlet allegedly spoke over them during the entire 30-minute presentation.
Another accessibility advocate, who wished to remain anonymous, also confirmed Barlet's behaviors. After discovering their interest in accessibility, Barlet allegedly stated over a call, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond."
Additionally, another advocate noted that upon discussing a collaboration, Barlet demanded they hand over all their work, claiming AbleGamers would take ownership. Barlet allegedly threatened to ruin the project through his "deep industry contacts" if the source refused.
Financial Mismanagement
Barlet's negative impact extended beyond his interactions with employees and fellow accessibility community members. As the founder and former Executive Director of AbleGamers, Barlet helped create new initiatives and programs. Under the guise of benefiting disabled players, the charity received millions in donations from studios and players. However, questions have arisen regarding the allocation of these funds.
According to another former AbleGamers employee who wished to remain anonymous, Barlet's spending caused tension within the company. Allegedly, his access to funds did little to support the mission, instead leading to wasteful expenditures.
"In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders at the organization had been discussing finances for some time," the source said. "We wanted to develop our budgets as pillar leads. It became clear that many senior directors were aware of the financial situation, with revenues not being great and expenses spiraling out of control."
The source noted that funds were often allocated for first-class tickets for certain leadership, hotel rooms before or after designated events, and expensive meals for office staff, despite the majority being remote employees. Employees regularly questioned the organization's financial decisions whenever non-essential expenditures were made. This was particularly evident when Barlet purchased a van for taking AbleGamers services on the road. "He bought a van one day, wrapped it, and said we're doing this. The money just sunk. The van did nothing for us," the original source explained. The purchase occurred during the pandemic, a time when the van couldn't be properly utilized due to quarantine and work-from-home orders.
Both former employees noted the purchase of a Tesla vehicle charger for the headquarters. According to the original source, some leadership members urged their teams to be more frugal due to funding concerns. "Mark paid to have a Tesla charger at the headquarters. None of us drove a Tesla except him," the source explained. The second source noted that the independent board began reviewing credit card and bank transfer statements within the past year, expressing frustration with Barlet using AbleGamers' money for a Tesla charger. Barlet claimed this was for the organization, but like the first source, the second source noted that no one within the company drove a Tesla besides Barlet.
Additionally, the second source highlighted internal discrepancies regarding salaries. Leadership questioned why some members were paid more than those in higher positions, especially since Barlet controlled salary amounts. According to the source, salaries appeared to reflect favoritism, with some employees earning significantly more for doing less within the company.
"A lot of the directors, including senior directors, did not agree that Mark should be drawing such a high salary; it was always a point of contention," the source said. "There were people who 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."
Leadership Failures
In addition to Barlet's financial mismanagement, the original source explained that AbleGamers' board ordered the hiring of a Certified Public Accountant as 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 these concerns, the source noted that the board failed to act, and the CFO left toward the end of last year but allegedly returned to the organization (IGN reached out to the CFO via email but did not receive a reply).
Both former employees noted that others in leadership positions, especially the nonprofit's independent board, failed to protect employees and act promptly. According to the original source, the lack of initiative by the charity's leaders, specifically the board, was intentionally orchestrated by Barlet.
"He kept the board very off-limits," the source said. "He was the only one who could communicate with them. I would ask leadership, 'Can I talk to the board, this is getting ridiculous,' and they'd say, 'I don't know who any of them are.' I'd say, 'You're top leadership, how do you not know who the board is?'"
The second source noted that tensions escalated in April 2024 when a former AbleGamers employee ordered an investigation through ADP, a payroll and HR service. After several weeks, the source noted that ADP allegedly advised the independent board to terminate Barlet "immediately" due to the severe nature of the allegations. However, the independent board allegedly ignored ADP's findings.
This intentional separation between employees and the board came to a head in June 2024. According to the second former employee, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint was filed in May, with at least one other employee following suit months later. The complaints ranged from racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and failure by certain members of leadership and the board to protect employees. Shortly after ADP's findings, AbleGamers' independent board began conducting their own internal investigation. However, as the second source explained, the board's response was not only untimely but also too slow to rectify the issues (IGN received two separate copies of EEOC complaints from former employees and can confirm their validity).
"June 15 is when I submitted a written complaint," the source said. "On June 25, 10 days later, the board issued its first communication regarding the organization's transition process. They did not even mention that Mark was being investigated throughout the whole investigation. They finally let staff know, on September 25, 2024, that the board issued communication that Mark was stepping down."
Throughout this process, the source was instructed to speak with AbleGamers' chosen legal team but never the board. The source also explained that no communication was given to staff regarding instructions on what projects to pursue, who staff were meant to report to, who was in varying leadership roles, the status of varying budgets, and even the process of the investigation. For travel requests, staff were told to communicate with former Chief Operating Officer Steven Spohn, but as the source noted, he "did not hold the interim executive director position by title or power."
The first source also noted that the internal investigation was conducted by a law firm with direct ties to AbleGamers. According to the source, AbleGamers "was under contract with the law firm, as we were going to take over the building. I had been to that building and met those lawyers before when touring. When I found out that they were the ones leading the investigation, ones that Barlet had a direct working relationship with, I brought that up to one of the board members, saying 'Is this actually a fair investigation?' And they reassured me, saying 'Yes, they are acting in appropriate manners.' But, I don't believe that." The second source noted that the law firm was to be tenants in the building, now owned by AbleGamers, for a period of "1 to 2 years, ending in 2025 or 2026, when they would move out."
The second source also acknowledged that the board's lack of a quick reaction was partly due to Barlet's control of the charity. According to the source, Barlet had access to "all the social media, bank accounts, all the different logins, control over Google Workspace, giving him the power to shut off everyone's email." Yet, a lack of transparency is one of the biggest complaints.
Barlet's removal from the organization was not without controversy. In a statement on his LinkedIn, Barlet stated, "As I step aside, I am confident in leaving this mission in the hands of the next generation of leaders, who will carry the torch forward with passion and innovation. The future of AbleGamers is bright, and I am excited to see how they will continue to expand the vision we started." The board never made a statement, instead instructing staff to simply point others to Barlet's post. The source also noted that Barlet was given severance after his removal, causing conflict with employees. However, even after Barlet's departure, the board allegedly retaliated against several employees.
According to the first source, several employees were let go from the organization in November and December 2024. The source noted that, allegedly, each employee who spoke out against Barlet's behaviors, resulting in the investigation and subsequent removal, were later removed. "The people that were fired were all ones that filed reports or talked to lawyers." The source also believes that they would have been fired alongside former coworkers if they did not choose to leave the organization due to personal reasons. The source acknowledged that the remaining employees at AbleGamers are staff that did not partake in the investigation (AbleGamers officials did not respond to our request for comment via email).
Even after the events of the investigation and subsequent rebuilding of AbleGamers, former leadership continues to create roadblocks. According to former employees, Spohn, who acted as a "mediator" between Barlet and employees during tense moments, reached out to several former employees using "manipulative language," encouraging them not to speak with IGN for this story for fear of "ruining the charity's reputation," as well as his own. The employees noted that Spohn continued to message multiple times, using similar language. And when reached for a comment via email and X/Twitter, Spohn did not respond.
Barlet's Comments
As for Barlet, he, along with the former Director of User Research at AbleGamers, Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group. Unlike AbleGamers, this new venture offers services to groups and businesses ranging from transportation, faith-based, hospitality, and gaming.
When interviewed regarding the allegations, Barlet, with respect to claims specifying workplace abuse and harassment, noted "After thoroughly being investigated by an independent third-party, it was determined that none of that was true." Barlet also claimed that these allegations, and their subsequent investigation, only occurred after he was allegedly advised to cut back on AbleGamers' workforce. The investigation itself was conducted internally, and Barlet was asked by the board to step down from his position. Sources noted that the results, or lack thereof, required further examination, resulting in several EEOC complaints being filed. Sources also questioned the integrity of the internal investigation, noting that it was conducted by the legal team affiliated with Barlet and AbleGamers.
When asked about allegedly harassing members of the disability community, Barlet stated, "I have had a 20-year career, going to countless events and meeting many, many people. Not everyone liked me. I think no one can say that everyone likes them."
Regarding funding spent on in-office meals, Barlet explained that of the 17 employees on AbleGamers' staff, seven reported to the office every week, occasionally increasing to nine when all local members reported. Barlet noted that due to the location of AbleGamers' headquarters, "expensive meals did not exist." He explained that the offerings of the area were similar in value to "Chipotle and Chick-fil-A." Barlet described these meals as a "perk" for employees who visited the office.
As for allegations of extended hotel stays, Barlet stated that "I would plan meetings before and after events. I stayed two days after the last GDC I went to. On day one, I met with a large gaming company, who then turned around and purchased $100,000 in training contracts. The next day, I had lunch with a high-value donor, who had already donated over the course of two years, $170,000. After I met with this donor, we discussed everything, and she agreed to donate another $75,000." Barlet did not specify the years this took place, nor the donors.
With respect to first-class flight purchases, Barlet noted, "AbleGamers had a codified and board-approved travel policy. That travel policy stated that 'Directors and above, on flights of four hours or more, could upgrade to business class if that cost was not extravagant.'" Barlet claimed he "often flew first class" because of the nature of his disability. When pressed to provide the information, he stated he was unable to share the travel policy with IGN.
However, an AbleGamers employee handbook provided to IGN by a source, specifically section 5-19, titled Business Expense Reimbursement, notes, "Employees will be reimbursed for reasonable approved expenses incurred in the course of business. These expenses must be approved by the employee's Supervisor, and may include air travel, hotels, motels, meals, cab fare, rental vehicles, or gas and car mileage for personal vehicles. All expenses incurred should be submitted to the Executive Director along with the receipt in a timely manner. Employees are expected to exercise restraint and good judgment when incurring expenses." Sources familiar with the finances disputed Barlet's claim, explaining that he, along with other directors, would regularly use first-class travel for flights across the United States, often equating to thousands of dollars. When other employees requested upgrades to flights, Barlet allegedly mocked them, bragged about his travels in first class, and outright denied requests to upgrade.
With relation to employee salaries, Barlet noted that "Most of our employees were compensated based on their education, experience, and position." However, the sources refuted that claim, explaining that those with bachelor's degrees in computer science, master's degrees, and even years of experience were regularly underpaid compared to those with similar titles or experience.
Other allegations, such as the purchase and installation of a Tesla charger, were outright denied by Barlet. Instead, he claimed the charger was a plug, not a full charger unit. Sources noted that independent board members familiar with the device distinctly noted a charging unit, and sources explained that those familiar with finances were appalled at the overall cost for the unit and its installation.
With claims that employees did not have access to the board, Barlet noted that all members of the board were available through Slack, a workplace chat system. However, sources noted that while the internal board, consisting of Barlet, Spohn, and Mitchell, were available to communicate with, the independent board, those responsible for the investigation into Barlet's departure, were allegedly not within the company's Slack.
Throughout numerous email exchanges with IGN, as well as the interview, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word. When asked to show appropriate documentation, he repeatedly denied, insisting that he was not able to provide information unless correspondence was entirely off the record. He also failed to provide other sources to corroborate his claims, again only willing to provide the information if interviews were completed entirely off the record.
For many disabled players, AbleGamers acted as a beacon of positivity. With so little proper disability and accessibility representation in the gaming industry, an organization advertising the uplifting of disabled voices was a welcome sight. However, behind closed doors, and even within the accessibility space, leadership allegedly failed to protect employees, as well as the people they purported to champion. And particularly for the first source, Barlet's behaviors ruined what was otherwise a dream career.
"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."
