I use the word cripple to describe people whose body is deformed, through genetics or injury, in a way that impedes motor function. I don't do political correctness -- all that is is a game that progressively takes concepts through term after term to avoid connotations. One thing about the way I think, speak, and write is that I am very aware of the connotations of words, but tend to ignore them, generally speaking as if words don't have the connotations they commonly do. I think this is good because when one neither understands connotations or participates heavily in the game of dodging or manipulating them, one is easily manipulated by language and sideswiped by rhetoricians who specialize in manipulation of connotations to win arguments on matters of substance. It's better to avoid that entire game and opt out, especially when dealing with people who are intelligent enough that they can easily divorce connotations from language use.
In conclusion, I'm not looking down on cripples when I use the word cripple instead of handicapped, differently abled, or whatever laborious concoction is the flavour of the month. To me, the term is cripple as a simply factual matter. If you're offended by the connotation, I suggest you learn not to be.