Jacob Esser
Dads of Down Syndrome
Founder and CEO of Dads of Down syndrome (DODs), a certified 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering fathers and families navigating the Down syndrome journey while inspiring advocacy along the way!
Our mission: Empower Dads, Inspire Advocacy. We empower dads through monthly events that range from roundtable discussions and guest speakers to large-scale events.
Develop relationships with fathers, donors, advocates and everyone in between. The DODs mission is designed for fathers to build courage, connection, and community so they return empowered to impact their family systems and communities on a large scale.
Jan. 2, 2026
166 - “You Matter”: Inclusion, Fatherhood, and the Power of Belonging with Jacob Esser
In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron sits down with Jacob Esser—dad, advocate, and founder of Dads of Down Syndrome—to explore what inclusion really looks like when it’s lived out daily. Jacob shares his powerful definition of inclusion as helping others realize they matter, reflects on his journey into the Down syndrome community through his son Levi, and opens up about the fear, love, and growth that come with an at-birth diagnosis. Together, they discuss the importance of ...
Guest: Jacob Esser