I have a menu that I want to include in my layout. I thought the best way to do this would be to use a navigation helper to display the menu. All the menus and menu items are in the database. I have the models created, but when I try to do:

class NavHelper extends AKActionViewHelper{
    function generateDropdown($menu_name){
        $menu = Menu::findFirst('name = ?',$menu_name);
    }
}

and call it in my view:

<?php echo $nav_helper->generateDropdown('main'); ?>

it throws an error, saying 'class Menu is undefined'.

I really dont want to have to manually include it in the helper, shouldnt it autoload?

--Kevin